The Milwaukee Bucks enter the 2025-26 season with a roster construction that blends superstar firepower, seasoned veterans, intriguing new additions, and a handful of young players who will be battling for rotation minutes. After years of being a consistent contender in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks once again appear poised to make a serious run at the NBA Finals, but their depth chart tells a story of balance between stability at the top and questions around the edges. Looking closely at the projected lineup reveals how the front office has prioritized both maintaining its championship window and adapting to the modern NBA’s demands for versatility, spacing, and depth.
At the forefront of the Bucks’ projected depth chart remains Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP, Finals MVP, and face of the franchise. Entering his prime years, Giannis is still the centerpiece around whom everything else revolves. His ability to dominate the paint, create mismatches, and defend multiple positions ensures that Milwaukee will always be relevant as long as he’s healthy. Alongside him is Damian Lillard, whose arrival reshaped the Bucks’ offensive identity last season. Lillard brings perimeter shot creation, elite shooting range, and the ability to close games—something the team had occasionally lacked in prior years. Together, Giannis and Lillard form one of the league’s most potent superstar duos, with their complementary skill sets giving the Bucks a unique inside-outside balance that keeps opposing defenses guessing.
The projected starting backcourt will almost certainly feature Lillard at point guard and Malik Beasley at shooting guard. Beasley’s shooting prowess, particularly as a spot-up threat, fits seamlessly next to both Giannis and Dame, allowing spacing for Antetokounmpo’s rim attacks and Lillard’s pick-and-roll orchestration. While Beasley can be streaky at times, his role as a floor-spacer is crucial in maximizing the efficiency of Milwaukee’s offensive schemes. However, the Bucks also brought in young guard AJ Green and veteran Pat Connaughton to challenge for minutes at the two-guard spot. Both bring shooting, hustle, and defensive grit, though Connaughton’s playoff experience might keep him ahead in the depth chart to start the season.
On the wing, Khris Middleton continues to be the stabilizer. His smooth mid-range game, ability to create in isolation, and leadership in clutch situations remain vital, even as age and injuries have forced the Bucks to manage his workload more carefully. Middleton’s presence also allows Giannis to operate with more freedom, as defenses must respect Middleton’s scoring ability. Backing him up will likely be a rotation involving MarJon Beauchamp, who has shown flashes of athleticism and defensive versatility. Beauchamp is a developmental piece the Bucks are counting on to take a leap, as his ability to guard wings and knock down threes could earn him significant minutes, especially in a league increasingly defined by athletic two-way wings.
The power forward slot is where the Bucks have an interesting mix. While Giannis will often function as the de facto power forward in traditional lineups, Milwaukee also has Bobby Portis, a fan favorite and emotional spark plug who brings toughness, rebounding, and shooting range. Portis can play both the four and small-ball five, giving the Bucks lineup flexibility. When paired with Giannis, Portis’s perimeter shooting allows Milwaukee to stretch defenses, but when Giannis sits, Portis can shoulder some offensive load in the post. Another name in the mix is rookie Tyler Smith, who the Bucks drafted to bring size and athleticism. Smith might not crack the main rotation immediately, but his development will be worth monitoring, as he projects as a versatile forward who could fit seamlessly into Milwaukee’s system down the road.
At center, Brook Lopez anchors the defense. Lopez has reinvented himself over the years, going from a low-post scorer to an elite rim protector and stretch-five. His ability to space the floor on offense while protecting the paint on defense makes him one of the most valuable big men in the NBA, even as he advances into his mid-30s. Lopez’s chemistry with Giannis is essential, as his shooting allows Giannis to dominate the paint without crowding, and his defense covers up mistakes on the perimeter. Behind Lopez, the Bucks will rely on Portis for backup minutes at center, while second-year big man Chris Livingston could also see opportunities if Milwaukee experiments with smaller lineups.
The second unit is where Milwaukee’s rotational battles become most intriguing. The bench depth includes Portis, Connaughton, Green, Beauchamp, and possibly campaign reclamation projects or veterans signed on short-term deals. With the NBA season being long and attrition inevitable, having reliable depth could make the difference between securing a top seed and struggling with consistency. Beauchamp’s ability to break into the rotation is one of the most pivotal storylines, as Milwaukee needs youth and athleticism to keep pace with younger, faster opponents in the East such as the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers.
From a strategic standpoint, the Bucks’ rotation could often vary depending on matchups. Against smaller, faster teams, coach Doc Rivers might opt for lineups featuring Giannis at the five with shooters and defenders surrounding him. This “death lineup” variation could maximize Milwaukee’s transition game and allow them to switch defensively across positions. Against more traditional lineups, Lopez will log heavy minutes to patrol the paint. Flexibility is key, and this Bucks team has the personnel to adapt to different opponents.
New additions also play a crucial role in shaping expectations. Whether it’s a young draftee like Tyler Smith or a late-offseason veteran signing, the Bucks have looked to bolster their depth with fresh legs. The NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement has placed more pressure on teams with expensive cores to find value in the margins, making development and smart rotation management more critical than ever. Milwaukee’s coaching staff will have to carefully balance the demands of winning now with preparing younger players for bigger roles in the future.
The challenge for the Bucks this season will be health management and chemistry. Giannis, Middleton, and Lillard all have significant mileage and recent injury concerns. Ensuring that they are fresh for the playoffs without sacrificing regular-season seeding is a balancing act. That is where depth and rotational battles will matter most—players like Beauchamp, Green, and even Smith will need to step up in spot starts or extended minutes when the stars sit. The success of the Bucks’ depth chart will not be judged only by the production of their starting five but by the reliability of their seventh through tenth men.
When evaluating Milwaukee’s place in the East, the depth chart speaks volumes about their identity. They are built around a superstar duo in Giannis and Lillard, supplemented by proven veterans in Middleton, Lopez, and Portis, and complemented by role players who know their jobs. This formula mirrors their 2021 championship team, though the supporting cast has evolved. The biggest difference is the addition of Lillard, whose offensive dynamism provides Milwaukee with a closer that they had sometimes lacked outside of Giannis’s rim dominance. In a playoff series, having someone who can generate a three-point look from 30 feet away changes everything about how defenses game-plan.
Ultimately, the Bucks’ projected 2025-26 depth chart paints a picture of a team still in championship contention, but also one that must navigate the challenges of age, durability, and integrating younger pieces. Giannis remains the engine, Dame the shot-maker, Middleton the steadying force, and Lopez the defensive anchor. Portis brings energy, Beasley provides spacing, Connaughton and Green add grit, and Beauchamp could emerge as the X-factor. The rotation battles will determine just how deep and versatile Milwaukee truly is, and whether they have enough to withstand the grueling path of the NBA playoffs.
