What led to the Bucks decision to waive Damian Lillard?
Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski discusses what led to the Bucks decision to waive Damian Lillard, enabling them to sign Myles Turner.
The NBA Cup champion Milwaukee Bucks will open defense of their in-season tournament title with pool play beginning Oct. 31.
Milwaukee will be in East Group C with New York, Chicago, Miami and Charlotte.
The Bucks will host the Bulls and Hornets and face the Knicks and Heat on the road. The league will once again designate these games on specific nights from Oct. 31-Nov. 28.
The quarterfinals will be held Dec. 9-10 and then the venue shifts to Las Vegas for the semifinals Dec. 13 and the final Dec. 16.
Last season the Bucks went 4-0 in pool play to advance to the “knockout” games and ultimately toppled the eventual NBA champion Oklahoma City Thunder, 97-81, in Las Vegas. Giannis Antetokounmpo was the MVP.
Milwaukee joined the Los Angeles Lakers as the first two organizations to win an NBA title and an NBA Cup. Antetokounmpo joined LeBron James as the only players to capture career regular season, NBA Cup and NBA Finals MVPs and Bucks head coach Doc Rivers is the only coach to capture a Finals and Cup final title.
The Bucks have advanced to Las Vegas for semifinal play each of the last two seasons and are 8-0 in pool play.
Bucks assistant coach Darvin Ham and forward Taurean Prince are unbeaten in Cup play over two seasons, as they won the 2023 NBA Cup while with the Lakers.