As the calendar flips to 2025, the Milwaukee Bucks find themselves in the thick of an Eastern Conference race that’s shaping up to be as competitive as ever.
If there's one thing we've learned from the season so far, it's that the journey to another championship won’t just rely on their stars—it’ll take contributions from every player, from the starting five to those battling for minutes off the bench.
We picked out a few New Year's resolutions for each Bucks player to start the year right heading into 2025 and put themselves and the team in positions to succeed.
New Year's resolutions for every Milwaukee Bucks player
Giannis Antetokounmpo - The Bucks go as Giannis goes, and a more versatile scoring arsenal could make him even more unstoppable. Giannis should look to keep dominating on both ends while continuing to flex his midrange mastery over the rest of the league. He already has an Emirates NBA Cup Finals MVP trophy — and a third NBA MVP or a second Finals MVP en route to a championship would take his legacy to even greater heights.
Damian Lillard - Lillard has made good on his preseason promise that "Dame Time" was coming back to Milwaukee. Going forward, Lillard should commit to improving defensively and solidifying his chemistry with Giannis in pick-and-roll situations, which are two of the only flaws left in his game today. His offense is electric, but small defensive adjustments could elevate the entire team, considering he still has the worst defensive rating among the team's main rotation players. Those two things might spell the difference between a championship and another disappointing exit.
Khris Middleton - " Khash Money Middleton's" thrust for this year should be to find consistency in his shooting and stay healthy. When Middleton is on, the Bucks’ offense reaches another level, but he needs to regain his rhythm quickly. Bucks fans know that the team has a third star - but the rest of the NBA needs a bit of reminding. Perhaps the playoffs will be the best time to do so, but we certainly hope he's able to get it together before then.
Brook Lopez - Despite his age, "Splash Mountain" has proven that he has no intention of slowing down any time soon on both ends of the floor. This year, Bucks fans should be hoping for Brook to keep anchoring the defense while adding a bit more aggressiveness to his rebounding. Lopez is vital in protecting the paint, and his boxing out is certainly a boon to the Bucks' efforts on the glass, but an extra board or two to his 4.9 rebounds per game would help the Milwaukee Bucks immensely.
Bobby Portis - Bobby already brings consistent energy off the bench, but Milwaukee Bucks fans are still hoping he can finally improve his defensive rotations. His hustle and shot-making at his position are unmatched, but defensive lapses can sometimes negate his impact. If he can become a net-positive player and go back to his Sixth Man of the Year finalist form, it will make the Bucks that much more lethal, especially in the NBA Playoffs.
Andre Jackson Jr. - Jackson has all but proven that he deserves to be the starting shooting guard for this team if they want to complement their starters with a proven defender who plays winning basketball. But there's a reason why he has the shortest leash on the team: a shooting guard shoots, and he will have to put in some work to build offensive consistency and variety to his game. His New Year's resolution should be to work on his confidence during in-game situations where his teammates will need him to let it fly. That and work on that patented floater of his that we saw a lot during his UConn days. It's suspiciously absent these days, but bringing it back would help the Bucks a lot.
Taurean Prince - Knock down those open threes, Taurean! His shooting was and is a valuable asset, but his game so far has given way to bouts of streakiness, which doesn't bode well for a Bucks team relying on floor spacing to open up the floor for its stars. Hopefully, we can see a more assertive and consistent offensive game from Taurean Prince going forward.
Gary Trent Jr. - Just like Taurean Prince, Trent has shown that he can be the X-factor in some games while also being the one piece that shoots the Milwaukee Bucks out of other games. He's shown he has what it takes, and from here on out, it's all a matter of building consistency on both ends of the floor and chemistry with his teammates.
AJ Green - In the past few games, AJ Green has shown he's definitely not just a 3-and-D wing. He still has a lot more areas to grow in as a playmaker, and if he's able to unlock that part of his game, he might just end up one of the more valuable members of the Milwaukee Bucks' bench later on.
Pat Connaughton - The young Bucks have passed the aging Connaughton in the rotation, and for the veteran, that should be fine. "Planet Pat's" resolution should be for him to stay ready for when the moment arrives that he is needed once again. And for him, staying ready means taking the time to get back in the lab and rediscover the fire that made him such a well-loved do-it-all glue guy in his best days as a Milwaukee Buck. Shooters shoot, and perhaps he should start there - he's shooting 31.1 percent from distance and 38 percent from the field. Getting his scoring touch might get him back in Doc Rivers' good graces in 2025.
Delon Wright - Milwaukee signed Wright to be that point-of-attack stopper and bench point guard that the Bucks have needed for years, but he's lost his footing in both of those things. Andre Jackson Jr. is their go-to defender now, while Ryan Rollins seems to be the go-to bench point guard for the time being. In 2025, Wright's motto should be to gain back ground and show fans just why he was the steal of the offseason. He's already had quite a few decent games, and it's all a matter of stringing them together and building consistency.
MarJon Beauchamp - At this point, it's clear that a new environment might be best for Beauchamp's development going forward. It didn't work out, and that's fine. This year, the hope is that the wing can earn some minutes to show what he can do and raise his trade value so both parties can finally find that next landing spot for the third year forward. On the off-chance that Beauchamp is still open to mending his relationship with the Bucks organization, the best-case scenario is still for him to finally find his footing and carve out a role he can call his own.
Chris Livingston - Livingston was always going to be a bit of a project player, but you'd want him to show you more than he has in year two. The Bucks roster is set, and opportunities are going to be limited from here on out, so Livingston's resolution should be to stay ready. In this league, you never know when the opportunity will come, so Livingston should look to snatch that moment when it comes. He's putting up decent numbers in the G-League, but his shooting is still looking like a big question mark. There is clearly something to work with here, but there are clearly still many, many things to work on going forward before he can finally find his niche on this team.
Stanley Umude - For 2025, Umude’s New Year’s resolution should be simple: continue working on his defensive versatility. The offense is already there, but at 6-foot-6 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan, he has the physical tools to be a multi-positional defender. Like the other end-of-bench guys on the team, it's tough to tell when his services will be needed. Yet, this Bucks team has always prioritized two-way play, and with Andre Jackson Jr.'s offensive limitations, there's still some wiggle room for Umude to earn some minutes as a competent wing defender who can shoot threes.
AJ Johnson - Johnson was something of a favorite for Doc Rivers during the exhibition matches before the season, but lately, his opportunities have been few and far between. His New Year's resolution should be to continue perfecting his craft as a lightning-quick point guard who can break down defenses by pushing the pace. It's clear what he can give this team, but there is really no telling when he can get his shot outside of cleanup duty. He's put up some solid all-around performances during the G-League, and there's nowhere to go but up from there - it will just have to take time.
Tyler Smith - Considering how young he is, there really isn't much pressure on Tyler Smith - for now. His New Year's resolution should be to focus on learning the Milwaukee Bucks’ system and finding ways to contribute in limited opportunities. He still has the frame and the physical tools he needs to turn into something in this league, and his focus should be on developing into a defensive anchor, which could be his ticket to more minutes.
Liam Robbins - This year, the hope is that Robbins will take strides in development and prove his worth as a potential long-term option at the center spot. Robbins needs to show he’s more than just a G-League project. He showed some intriguing defense in the preseason games, and the best-case scenario is that he becomes a Brook Lopez disciple of sorts.
The Milwaukee Bucks’ success in 2025 will depend on how well each player embraces their role and addresses areas for growth. Whether it’s Giannis fine-tuning his offensive arsenal, Middleton rediscovering his rhythm, or the bench stepping up in crucial moments, every piece of the puzzle matters. If the team can take these resolutions to heart, Milwaukee might find themselves once again at the top of the NBA mountain, with their sights firmly set on another Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis, and Happy New Year!