The Milwaukee Bucks have been searching for answers on the defensive end all season.
Despite having one of the most dominant rim protectors in the league in Brook Lopez, the Bucks have struggled to contain opposing wings and guards, particularly in pick-and-roll situations.
Enter Kyle Kuzma. While Kuzma is primarily known for his scoring and versatility on offense, his defensive potential could be the key to solving one of the Milwaukee Bucks’ most pressing issues.
At 6-foot-9 with a 7-foot wingspan, Kuzma has the size to guard multiple positions, from smaller wings to stretch fours. He’s also shown the ability to stay in front of quicker players on the perimeter while holding off stouter ones in the post. Given his unique blend of size, speed and length, Kuzma might just be the wing defender the Milwaukee Bucks have been dying for, even if that side of the ball isn't necessarily his calling card in this league.
The Bucks have long needed a competent wing-stopper with size
It feels like we've been harping on the need for a legitimate defensive option at small forward for years now, and this season has been no different. The Bucks’ defensive struggles this year have been well-documented. After finishing as a top-five defense in each of the last five seasons, they’ve plummeted to an 11th-ranked defensive rating of 112.4 points given up per 100 possessions.
Part of the problem is their lack of perimeter defense. The Bucks have yet to find a reliable solution. Players like AJ Green and Andre Jackson Jr. have tried to fill the gap, but each one comes with their own cons.
This weakness has been exploited repeatedly in pick-and-roll situations, where the Bucks’ lack of athleticism and lateral quickness has left them vulnerable. Opposing teams have feasted on mismatches, forcing Lopez and Bobby Portis to switch onto smaller, quicker guards—a recipe for disaster. The Bucks need a wing defender who can hold his own in isolation, fight through screens and disrupt opposing offenses. That’s where Kyle Kuzma comes in.
Kuzma’s defensive numbers this season are eye-opening. Opposing forwards are shooting just 39.9 percent from the field overall when he’s the closest defender, a testament to his length, athleticism and effort on that end of the floor.
This season, Kuzma's role sees him defending pick-and-roll ball-handlers 31.9 percent of the time on the end of the floor. And opposing scorers in those plays are only putting up 0.79 points per possession on 37.7 percent shooting from the field. That puts him in the 80th percentile in his position when defending those plays.
What makes Kuzma particularly valuable is his versatility. He can switch onto guards in pick-and-roll situations, fight through screens to stay with his man and use his length to contest shots and disrupt passing lanes. These are skills the Milwaukee Bucks have been sorely lacking, and they could make a significant difference in the playoffs, where matchups and adjustments are everything.
Now, he's by no means a perfect defender, and the statistics aren't particularly flattering when you look at other play types. When defending isolations, he's in the ninth percentile, making him one of the worst in the league defending that play type.
But since joining the Bucks, Kuzma has already shown glimpses of his defensive potential. In his first game with the Bucks, he was tasked with guarding big man Mouhamed Gueye for stretches, using his length and footwork to make life difficult for one of the league’s most unstoppable scorers.
While Gueye gave Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis fits, he was held to 2-of-7 shooting (28.6 percent) against Kuzma. The latter's effort and competitiveness were evident, and he forced the Hawks center into several tough shots even despite the size disadvantage.
If Kuzma can consistently bring this level of defensive intensity, he could be the X-factor the Bucks need to shore up their defense. His ability to guard multiple positions would allow the Bucks to be more flexible with their lineups, switching more aggressively and closing out on shooters more effectively. It would also take some of the pressure off Giannis Antetokounmpo and Lopez, allowing them to focus on protecting the rim and anchoring the defense.
For Kuzma to reach his full potential as a defender, the Milwaukee Bucks need to put him in positions to succeed. That means giving him consistent minutes, trusting him to guard elite wings and holding him accountable on that end of the floor even despite his inconsistencies on the other end. It also means using him in lineups that maximize his versatility, pairing him with other strong defenders to create a more cohesive unit.
Kyle Kuzma might not be the first name that comes to mind when you think of elite wing defenders, but his numbers and versatility suggest he could be exactly what the Bucks need. Considering what the numbers say, Kuzma has the potential to be a game-changer on the defensive end. If he can embrace this role and deliver in the playoffs, he could help the Bucks solve one of their most glaring weaknesses and make a deep run toward another championship.
The Bucks have been searching for a wing defender all season. They might have found their answer in Kyle Kuzma. Now it’s up to him to prove it.
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