Rachel Nichols explains why Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks could still shock the East: "I can see them getting to a Conference Finals"

With the Milwaukee Bucks parting ways with core players like Damian Lillard and Brook Lopez this offseason, Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to enter the 2025-26 season with quite a different team and without most of the championship roster he once had.

Moreover, with their biggest off-season addition being Myles Turner, few expect the Bucks to make headline-worthy strides. But Rachel Nichols isn’t the one among the skeptics. Rather, the 51-year-old NBA analyst believes there’s a legitimate path for this team to reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 2026.

Nichols on how the Bucks can reach the ECFs

While the Bucks may no longer have another superstar alongside Giannis, they do possess depth across multiple positions. For instance, their lineup of forwards — Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, and Taurean Prince — brings quality to the frontcourt.

In the backcourt, guards like Kevin Porter Jr., Cole Anthony, and Amir Coffey can all contribute on both ends of the court. Moreover, players like AJ Green, Gary Trent Jr., and Gary Harris can all provide reliable 3-and-D offense. Thus, if these players mesh well, they can split the load with Giannis.

Additionally, given just how open the East looks with major teams set to miss their superstars throughout the 2025-26 campaign, Nichols emphasized that if the Bucks can stay healthy and avoid star-studded and team like the New York Knicks in their respective playoff bracket, there is a strong chance they could make an unexpected deep run in the playoffs.

“They feel like a second-round team, right?” Nichols said in her interview with Sports Illustrated. “That would be an improvement, by the way, because it was what, the past three seasons they have been knocked out in the first?

“Just getting to the playoffs healthy would be an exciting improvement for them. But it’s Giannis, man. I would say that, partly depending on the bracket, I think that’s a huge underrated part of predicting playoff things, that we just don’t take into consideration because we can’t, because we don’t know what the bracket’s going to be.But I can see them getting to a Conference Finals. If they get the right draw, everyone’s healthy,” she added.

The Bucks need to be injury-free

The last thing the Bucks need, however, is another injury setback, especially to Giannis. Any such blow to even any role player would only increase the burden on him to single-handedly win games.

Instead, the roster can share responsibilities while Giannis provides direction and leadership. In that case, the Bucks might emerge as the East’s ultimate surprise squad.

After seeing their superstar-driven experiment fall short, this version of the team may thrive by leaning on role players rather than banking solely on star power. And who knows, Milwaukee can be a trend-setter in the upcoming season, showcasing how depth matters more than superstars on the roster.

That being said, one thing seems certain: While the Bucks do not seem utterly dominant on paper, analysts surely haven’t totally given up on them, at least just yet.

This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Aug 31, 2025, where it first appeared in the Latest News section. Add Basketball Network as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Rachel Nichols explains why Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Bucks could still shock the East: “I can see them getting to a Conference Finals”

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