The 2025-26 Milwaukee Bucks will go as far as Giannis Antetokounmpo enables them to. It's a truth that's universally accepted in NBA circles. What a recent loss quietly proved, however, is that Antetokounmpo isn't the only player Milwaukee can rely on for significant production.
With the two-time MVP out against the Charlotte Hornets, it was Ryan Rollins who stepped up and provided star-caliber contributions—thus answering if he could thrive without Antetokounmpo.
Rollins has been in tremendous form early in 2025-26, excelling on both ends of the floor at the point guard position. Through 12 appearances, he's averaging 17.3 points, 5.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and 2.3 three-point field goals made on .527/.459/.808 shooting.
Rollins turned heads with a quietly strong 2024-25 campaign, but no one expected him to make the leap that he has in such short order.
Still just 23 years of age, the former second-round draft pick has shown clear signs of legitimate star potential. It's helped Milwaukee fill the void left behind by Damian Lillard and offered reason to believe that it could make noise during the 2025 NBA Playoffs.
More importantly, Rollins is proving that he isn't a product of Antetokounmpo, but instead a player who can stand on their own two feet.
Ryan Rollins proving he isn't a product of Giannis, but a legitimate player
With Antetokounmpo out against Charlotte, Rollins posted 25 points, six assists, five rebounds, and one steal on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and a 4-of-6 mark from beyond the arc. It was a stellar individual showing with the superstar sidelined and the weight of expectation on his shoulders.
It was also the fourth time in 2025-26 that Rollins scored at least 20 points and the third time that he posted at least 25 points.
It's all a part of what's become one of the most unlikely developments of the 2025-26 season: The emergence of a new backcourt of the future. With Rollins and AJ Green, the Bucks have one of the more promising young guard duos that the Association has to offer.
Green is a career 42.6 percent shooter from beyond the arc whose volume is increasing by virtue of simply receiving more minutes, and Rollins is a perfect complement to him.
The offensive potential of the up-and-coming backcourt has already been on display. Green and Rollins have played 536 possessions together and rank in the 64th percentile in net rating, the 83rd percentile in offensive rating, and the 98th percentile in eFG%.
Across 129 possessions with Green and Rollins on the court and Antetokounmpo on the sidelines, the Bucks are still producing a positive net rating that ranks in the 58th percentile.
Clearly, the Bucks are a better team when Green and Rollins can play alongside Antetokounmpo, let alone Myles Turner. What the early stages of the 2025-26 season have revealed, however, is that Milwaukee isn't quite as lost without them as some might presume.
Rollins has played a significant role in that development as the shot creator, playmaker, and defender the Bucks didn't expect to have on the roster in 2025-26—with or without Antetokounmpo.