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2025-26 Milwaukee Bucks Predictions and Odds to Win NBA Finals

by Spencer Toth - 10/7/2025

Milwaukee Bucks predictions Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks will be expected to compete for an NBA championship each season as long as they have a healthy Giannis Antetokounmpo on their roster. However, the 2021 championship feels like a distant memory in Milwaukee, as the Bucks have been bounced in the first round in three consecutive seasons. Milwaukee has needed to be crafty to stay competitive with the oldest roster in the league and minimal future draft capital to work with. Can the Bucks find a way to keep Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, or will this be the beginning of the end of his time with the Bucks?

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Milwaukee Bucks Offseason Recap

The Damian Lillard experiment in Milwaukee was a disaster. Milwaukee gave up Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen among first-round draft picks to acquire Lillard in 2023. Flash forward two years, and the Bucks don’t have a series win to show for it and have waived Lillard altogether. Lillard was an important part of the Bucks' offense before he tore his Achilles, but his lack of defensive work rate came back to haunt them. Lillard can hit clutch shots like few others in the NBA, but it wasn’t enough to keep the Bucks afloat. He was only able to suit up for 58 games before he got hurt, and the Bucks made the wise decision to move on from his massive contract. Dame Time in Milwaukee was a fun but brief and ultimately unsuccessful era. 

Lillard wasn’t the only one to leave Milwaukee this offseason, as Brook Lopez and Pat Connaughton have also moved on. Lopez spent the last seven years of his career alongside Antetokounmpo with the Bucks and was seemingly getting better with age. He didn’t slow down at 37 years old, as he was a threat on both ends of the court. His elite rim protection was crucial to the Bucks' success, and Lopez’s consistent three-ball helped stretch the floor for Antetokounmpo. Connaughton was also a longtime Buck, but he was never able to really flourish off the bench and was due for a change in scenery. 

Joining the fray in Milwaukee is Myles Turner. It was surprising to see Turner leave Indiana after their shock trip to the NBA Finals, and he is the perfect heir to Lopez in the paint. Turner can be a menace on the inside, which allows Antetokounmpo to roam away from the basket on defense. On offense, Turner can shoot as well, if not better, than Lopez from deep, and still has the rebounding and finishing abilities needed to thrive inside. If Turner can quickly gel with Antetokounmpo, the Bucks will be a threat in the East faster than expected. 

Milwaukee Bucks Season Expectations

Giannis Antetokounmpo may not have won MVP last year, but there is no denying the fact that he is among the best players in the NBA. He led the league in field goals made and free throws attempted last season and was a vacuum on the glass with 11.9 rebounds per game. His free-throw percentage at 61.7% limited his opportunities in the paint, as teams realized they were better off sending Antetokounmpo to the line rather than letting him drive to the hoop. Once Antetokounmpo gets going downhill, the only option is to foul him or risk being put on a poster by the league’s most explosive player. 

This is a pivotal season for Antetokounmpo. The trade rumors are as loud as ever surrounding the Greek Freak, and another disappointing year could spell the end of his time with the Bucks. Milwaukee has done a great job of keeping its championship window open despite limited resources, as they are aware that this is the only reason Antetokounmpo is still wearing a Bucks uniform. 

The Bucks have the inside covered with Turner and Antetokounmpo, and their ceiling will be determined by their guard play. Kevin Porter Jr. is a fantastic prospect who came to Milwaukee at the trade deadline last year, but he only started twice. His role will be expanded with Lillard out of the picture, and his microwave scoring will be essential for the Bucks' success. Kyle Kuzma and Gary Trent Jr. are strong players to round out the starting five, as the Bucks are poised for success in a wide-open Eastern Conference. 

Milwaukee Bucks Schedule Breakdown

The Bucks open up the year with several winnable games at home. Eleven of their first 18 games are at Fiserv Forum, with matchups against the Wizards, Kings, Bulls, 76ers, Hornets, and Trail Blazers in the first month of the new season. Over the holidays, the Bucks have their longest road trip of the season, with five road games between December 21st and 29th. They also have a flurry of road games to close out the season, with 10 of their last 15 being played away from home. 

Milwaukee Bucks Odds

The Bucks have a regular season win total of 42.5 with -215 odds to make the playoffs. These lines imply that Antetokounmpo will be staying in Milwaukee, which makes sense as a midseason trade appears unlikely. If that is the case, the juicy prices on 45+ wins (+152) and 50+ wins (+410) could be worth a stab. If the Bucks do underperform this season, a spot in the play-in tournament at +115 offers odds better than the standard under on the win total. In the playoffs, the Bucks have the 7th-best odds to win the East at +1900, with +6500 odds to win the NBA Finals. Milwaukee is clearly expected to struggle outside of Antetokounmpo’s assumed success, but one place they can find tangible rewards is the NBA Cup. They are +420 to win their group featuring the Knicks (-125), but don’t have any competition from the Heat, Bulls, or Hornets. They take on the Knicks in the final NBA Cup group stage game, which could be a winner-take-all affair. 

 

2025-26 Milwaukee Bucks Season Predictions and Best Bets

The Bucks' title aspirations have been dampened after a few poor seasons in a row, but this is the year they can make legitimate waves in the East. The Eastern Conference is far weaker than the West, with most of the contenders injured or underperforming. The Bucks still have the best player in the conference, and are worth taking a stab at some long odds. While the 42.5 win total and the -215 playoff odds are both good, it is better to chase longer odds for your season-long bets. The Bucks have secured 45+ wins in seven straight seasons, and taking 45+ at +152 and 50+ at +410 are both worthwhile. Milwaukee has the star talent needed to beat up on bad teams, and these are attainable win totals if they can stay healthy.

For the second bet, we will take the Bucks to win the conference at +1900 odds. Cleveland and New York are the only two sides with enough talent to legitimately be ranked higher than the Bucks. Milwaukee has plenty of value at +1900 to reach the NBA Finals, and is the perfect sprinkle heading into the new year. If the wins start piling up early for Milwaukee, the public will remember just how impactful a motivated Antetokounmpo can be. 

Pick: Milwaukee Bucks 45+ Wins +152

Top Pick: Milwaukee Bucks 50+ Wins +410

Pick: Milwaukee Bucks to win the Eastern Conference +1900

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