The Milwaukee Bucks are hoping to promote celebrity Giannis Antetokounmpo on the thought of a “hole yr.” That is in response to the most recent from NBA Insider Marc Stein in his Substack The Stein Line.
The idea of a niche yr for the Bucks revolves round having a down yr in 2025-26. With Damian Lillard anticipated to overlook the season as he recovers from a ruptured Achilles, contending for a title is actually out of the query. The aim, then, could be to amass a high quality draft decide after which work in direction of competing at a excessive degree in 2026-27.
Antetokounmpo has constructed a repute for himself as arguably essentially the most aggressive star within the league. The thought of him not solely being OK with not competing for the most important prize however maybe even tanking goes to be a giant one to promote.
He made an All-NBA staff for the eighth time in his profession final week and completed third in MVP voting. The Bucks completed fifth within the East and misplaced within the first spherical to the Indiana Pacers.
What Does The Full Hole Yr Case Look Like?
Antetokounmpo holds the Bucks close to and expensive to his coronary heart. If there’s a state of affairs the place he finishes his profession in Milwaukee, he’ll on the very least think about it.
The opposite a part of the promote job is that his finest hopes lie in staying within the East. Subsequent yr is crammed with uncertainty for each the Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers. They’re each groups which were primarily considered East contenders over the previous half-decade.
There are new forces rising, although. The Pacers and New York Knicks are at the moment contesting the convention finals and aren’t going wherever. The Cleveland Cavaliers have been the highest seed after 64 wins however fell aside within the second spherical partially attributable to harm.
A wholesome Orlando Magic squad must be higher whereas the Detroit Pistons additionally look to be on the rise. Taking this yr off and nonetheless not being positive of rivalry standing in 2026-27 when Lillard can be 36 years previous is a murky state of affairs at finest.
Let’s not overlook, Antetokounmpo himself can be getting into his age 31 season in ’25-26. It’s not as if he has plenty of time to sit down round and wait.
Spurs Have Finest ‘Hole Yr’ Instance
The San Antonio Spurs have the most effective instance of a niche yr. After profitable 62 video games and 59 video games in 1994-95 and ’95-96, they pulled the plug the next season attributable to accidents to star middle David Robinson.
Because of the dismal effort in ’96-97, the Spurs completed 20-62 and landed the No. 1 decide within the draft. They used that decide to pick Tim Duncan and the remaining is historical past. San Antonio went on to ascertain a dynasty with Duncan and gained 5 titles throughout his profession.
Except there’s a state of affairs during which Antetokounmpo will get a extreme harm, it will likely be tough to lose on that scale. Asking Antetokounmpo to sit down video games merely gained’t work.
The report additionally means that Antetokounmpo’s sturdy working relationship with head coach Doc Rivers is one other facet in Milwaukee’s favor.
This actually doesn’t look like a lot to pin their hopes on the Greek Freak not requesting a commerce, but it surely seems to be the most effective shot they’ve bought.
