After trading for Kyle Kuzma to bolster their roster alongside Damian Lillard and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks faced a mixed bag of results during the last season. Kuzma, who was expected to provide scoring, averaged only 14.5 points over 32 games, a dip from his previous year with the Washington Wizards. His struggles continued into the playoffs, where the Bucks were eliminated in the first round by the Indiana Pacers.

Despite this underwhelming performance, optimism surrounds Kuzma as the Bucks enter the 2025-26 season. Analysts believe he should be given a pass for his lackluster debut, especially when transitioning from a losing environment to one with higher expectations. With Lillard sidelined due to injury, Kuzma is poised to take on a more significant role, as the Bucks hope he can recapture his scoring prowess.