Reaction to the NBA slighting Bucks on Christmas Day schedule

The Milwaukee Bucks playing on Christmas Day has become a tradition over the past many years, with the team having participated in six consecutive contests on the holiday.

Well, rumor has it that the streak is about to end. Per The Athletic's Shams Charania, the Bucks aren't among the teams on the five-game slate for the NBA's 2024 Christmas schedule. This slight will drum up some justifiable controversy.

Why the Bucks won't be playing on Christmas this year

Following back-to-back first-round exits in the NBA Playoffs, Milwaukee's PR is as low as it has been over the past few years. The league clearly doesn't view them as highly as they once did, despite the amount of star power the roster has with players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard on the payroll.

Instead of sticking with the Bucks, the NBA wants to showcase some of it's rising talent, giving teams like the San Antonio Spurs and Minnesota Timberwolves the stage to highlight Victor Wembanyama and Anthony Edwards. Given everything they showed last season, it makes sense that the league wants to put these two under the bright lights for a major event.

For the Milwaukee Bucks, this Christmas Day absence will likely only be the start of the slighting this coming season. After those two early postseason exits, they will not be high in any power rankings, and many analysts likely will not have them winning the 2025 title. Talk will be cheap; they have to put their past behind them and get back to their winning ways before anyone believes in them.

With all of the doubt cast on the Bucks by outsiders, they will undoubtedly be underdogs this season in their quest to win another championship. Already, it feels very similar to 2021, when there was no shortage of naysayers doubting their ability to get the job done. If next season ends in similar fashion to that year, it would be a tremendous outcome for Milwaukee.

While this should give the Bucks motivation, they also likely won't be too mad about being able to spend the holidays with their families, especially the ones who have played six straight Christmas matchups over the past handful of years.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.