When the 2024-25 Schedule was unveiled, the Milwaukee Bucks were likely left feeling disrespected. For the first time in six years, they won’t be hitting the court on Christmas Day—a glaring omission that hints at the league’s shifting perception of this once-dominant team. Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the NBA’s top stars with jersey sales to prove it, won’t be in the Christmas spotlight. Is the NBA signaling that the Bucks are no longer the powerhouse they once were? It certainly seems that way.
Brutal 2024-25 Schedule: Is the NBA Pushing the Bucks Out of Contention?
But the Bucks’ schedule woes don’t stop there. The path laid out for them is nothing short of brutal, with challenges at every turn. Milwaukee starts the season on the road against the Philadelphia 76ers, immediately followed by a treacherous lineup: seven of their first ten games are against top-tier teams like the 76ers, Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Cleveland Cavaliers, and New York Knicks. To add insult to injury, four of these games are away, making this opening stretch a true test of their mettle.
November offers a brief respite, with a schedule heavy on home games. However, December brings a quiet calm before the storm. As the All-Star break approaches, the Bucks are thrust into a punishing series of games, with nine out of thirteen on the road, including two grueling back-to-backs. This is the time of year when players’ minds naturally wander to the upcoming break, but Milwaukee won’t have that luxury. They’ll need to lean on their veteran experience and remain laser-focused to avoid slipping.
March presents no relief. The month kicks off with a brutal sequence of games against playoff contenders from last season: Dallas, Atlanta, Orlando, Cleveland, and the Lakers, to name a few. Then comes the pièce de résistance—a five-game West Coast road trip that takes them through Los Angeles, San Francisco, Sacramento, Phoenix, and Denver over ten exhausting days.
If that wasn’t enough, the Bucks will close the season with a nightmarish stretch: 22 consecutive games against teams that either made the playoffs or the play-in tournament last year. Add in the fact that their back-to-back games have increased from 14 last season to 16 this season, and it’s clear the Bucks are facing an uphill battle. For an aging team with injury concerns, this schedule is a ticking time bomb.
The Bucks are undoubtedly feeling the league’s cold shoulder, but they can’t afford to let it drag them down. Excuses won’t cut it—they’ll have to fight through the fatigue and prove they still belong among the NBA’s elite. This team has a chip on its shoulder, and they’re out to show the league that they’re far from finished.
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