Only 1 thing can win the Bucks a championship (and it won't happen)

The Milwaukee Bucks are focused on winning another championship. They traded Jrue Holiday and multiple draft picks to get Damian Lillard last offseason. It opened the door for Holiday to land on the Celtics and help them win a championship. Milwaukee was bounced in the first round of the playoffs for the second straight year, but the franchise believes they can be serious contenders this season.

The Bucks upgraded their roster this offseason around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Dame. The point guard is eager to prove everyone wrong and hopes to win his first championship. Keeping Giannis healthy in the playoffs is their top priority, but they need more than just their two stars.

Khris Middleton is a crucial piece for Milwaukee on both ends of the floor. The three-time All-Star was their second-leading scorer during their 2021 championship run. The Bucks need him to be a star on both ends, but the 33-year-old may not be up to the task.

Bucks need Khris Middleton to return to All-Star form to win a title

The Celtics are loaded with talent. They have arguably the best top six in the NBA and are favored to repeat as champions. The 76ers added Paul George to form a Big 3, and the Knicks upgraded by trading for Mikal Bridges. Things are loaded at the top of the Eastern Conference, and everyone is discounting the Bucks.

Giannis Antetokounmpo may be the best player in the world, but he cannot do it alone. Damian Lillard is an absolute bucket with flaws. He struggles on defense and has appeared in the conference finals just once in his first 12 NBA seasons. The Bucks need more.

Middleton is the next man up for Milwaukee. The 6’7 wing has scored over 20 points per game in four of the last six years and has played a crucial role in the Bucks having one of the NBA’s top defenses. The franchise needs that player, but Middleton can no longer sustain those heights.

He had surgery on both ankles (subscription required) this offseason. Middleton is expected to be ready for opening night, but the injuries are adding up. He has not played more than 70 games in a season since 2019 and has appeared in just 88 contests over the last two combined. Middleton’s minutes and production have dipped too. Asking the 33-year-old to recover his peak form is just too much.

Yes, Middleton averaged 24.7 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 4.7 assists in the playoffs, but the Pacers had one of the worst defenses in the league last season. He can score and make plays, but his production on the other end of the floor is even more worry-inducing.

Milwaukee needs a defensive stopper on the wing. Damian Lillard struggles on that end. Taurean Prince and Gary Trent Jr. are not known for their defense. Delon Wright is, but he averages just 20.7 minutes per game for his career. The expectation will fall mostly on Middleton, but the injuries have sapped his lateral quickness. Middleton just cannot stick with the league’s best scorers anymore.

The Milwaukee Bucks are not winning shootouts on their way to a championship. They need Khris Middleton to become a productive two-way All-Star again to have a serious shot, but it is just not possible. Expect to see the Bucks in the playoffs and favored to win in the first round. That is a realistic strong outcome for the franchise in 2025, even if it doesn’t meet the team’s expectations.