When the Milwaukee Bucks won the NBA Championship in 2021, one of the greatest traits of their roster was the versatility.
Though they often started matchups with a fearsome frontcourt duo of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Brook Lopez, they oftentimes switched things up by deploying the eventual Finals MVP at the center spot and having P.J. Tucker play the four. When they were playing teams where switching was almost a necessity, that was vital to Milwaukee's success.
Over the years, the Milwaukee Bucks have tried to replicate this same formula with various new parts, but it simply hasn't worked out the same. Now, as they prepare to return from the 2025 All-Star break, Milwaukee is ready to try once again, with their main new source of versatility coming in the form of newcomer Kyle Kuzma, who came over at the trade deadline.
Kuzma's versatility could be the key to unlocking this version of the Milwaukee Bucks. In fact, it could be the difference between this team reaching its title dreams and another early playoff exit.
The Milwaukee Bucks need an ever-versatile Kyle Kuzma
While they are far from similar players, all signs point to Kyle Kuzma playing the P.J. Tucker role when the Milwaukee Bucks are healthy. He will almost certainly start at the small forward spot alongside the duo of Giannis and Lopez, but there will be plenty of instances where Milwaukee needs Kuzma to play the power forward role to complement the Greek Freak, who will be at center.
The small-ball lineups with Giannis at the five were pivotal in Milwaukee's title run, and there's a good chance they could fuel the team's success this season. The struggles of Lopez and Bobby Portis when it comes to keeping up with quicker, more athletic teams this year have been well-documented, and having the one-two punch of Kuzma and Antetokounmpo could be a nice solution.
Kuzma has never been a lockdown defender, but the Milwaukee Bucks need him to dial in and take on some of the toughest matchups nightly. When playing teams like Boston, that could involve guarding Jayson Tatum once trip down the floor and Jrue Holiday the next. Against the Cleveland Cavaliers, Donovan Mitchell one minute and Evan Mobley the next. This roster doesn't have many players who can do that, but Kuzma has the build, athleticism, speed and switchability to help.
Sticking with versatility, it will be fascinating to monitor how Kuzma's offense progresses. During his early tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks, he has shown a knack for attacking the hoop and making his share of tough shots at the rim. That could help, but he also needs to hit a few outside jumpers here and there to keep defenses on their toes, especially with Giannis on the court next to him. If he can do that, it would draw attention off Giannis or help the Bucks put points on the board with triples.
The NBA world has yet to see a Kuzma-Antetokounmpo lineup on the court, given that Giannis was on the sidelines leading up to the NBA All-Star break due to injury. Getting this tandem well-acquainted and battle-tested before the NBA Playoffs will be crucial to Milwaukee's title hopes, as it could be the pairing that unlocks a level of versatility this team has not had in years, allowing them to compete with other versatile squads across the NBA.
On paper, Kyle Kuzma is the type of do-it-all player who could be the shot in the arm this team needs after an inconsistent start pre-All-Star break. His versatility on both ends, especially when sharing the floor with Giannis Antetokounmpo, is a prominent X-factor to Milwaukee's championship hopes.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.