NBA Sends Clear Message to Bucks With National TV Shortage This Season

The Milwaukee Bucks have declined rapidly over the last few years, not only with their product on the floor but in the level of interest that the NBA world as a whole has in the team. 

The Bucks seemed to be on top of the world after winning a NBA championship in 2021 with MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on their roster, but the national attention around them has dropped year by year. In 2023-24 season, the Bucks were on national television 19 times, then 17 times in 2024-25 and finally 13 times last season. 

That was when they still had Antetokounmpo on the roster, though the team was struggling severely, but now that Antetokounmpo is gone and the Bucks are rebuilding, the Bucks are scheduled to play a nationally televised game just twice next season. 

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) looks on prior to the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum. Jeff Hanisch-Imagn ImagesInterest in Antetokounmpo

But even with Antetokounmpo off the roster, the Bucks can't escape him. Milwaukee's two nationally televised games are both against the Miami Heat, Antetokounmpo's new team, clearly showing that the NBA believes that the Bucks are still only interesting in relation to their former franchise star. 

This is a situation that the Bucks will have to get used to, it seems. The Bucks aren't in as desolate a place with their roster as national opinions might indicate and there is promise in a potential core of Tyler Herro, Ryan Rollins and Jaime Jaquez Jr., but that doesn't mean that they're destined for premier success anytime soon. 

Milwaukee Bucks guardRyanRollins(13) drives the ball while under pressure from Los Angeles Clippers center Brook Lopez (11) during the second half at Intuit Dome. William Liang-Imagn Images

Milwaukee will be a team fully embroiled in a rebuilding process for several seasons and rebuilding a team and trying to find a fit between several talented but undervalued players isn't a recipe for the most nationally compelling basketball.

Working in the Dark

The Bucks are unquestionably in a new era and it could take years before they reach the upper half of the league and again and on top of of that, they do not have a outstanding star on the team anymore, especially not one at the caliber of Antetokounmpo. 

Miami Heat forward Jaime Jaquez Jr. (11) drives to the basket as Washington Wizards forward Anthony Gill (16) defends in the second half at Capital One Arena. Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

The future for the Bucks will be one of quiet construction, dwelling near the bottom of the league in perception and possibly standings while they work to rescue themselves from the mediocrity and tension that they were stuck in last season.

As a result, the Bucks are going to be working in the dark away from the attention or the expectations of the rest of the league. Rebuilding isn't the most fun process in the world and it certainly isn't the most watchable, but it's one that Milwaukee will need to commit to if they ever want to change their fate.