The Milwaukee Bucks are gearing up for their first season without Giannis Antetokounmpo since they drafted him in 2013, and there is no better evidence that they’re entering a new era than looking at their 2026-27 regular season schedule, which just dropped on Thursday. The team has only two nationally televised games, both of which, unsurprisingly, will happen against Miami.

Luckily, at least, this season will mark the first time the Bucks return to full-season over-the-air TV in 31 years, with all games airing on My24 and statewide affiliates, including the preseason. It will still be different, though, even with the team’s nationally televised games dropping over the past few years, as the Bucks had only 13 this past season, which is still a far cry from two.

You’d think the league would want more eyes on whether Gary Trent Jr. is worth the four-year, $64 million deal they’re investigating, but oh well.

It’s a sign of the times that the Bucks are in. With Antetokounmpo gone, the NBA doesn’t view Milwaukee as a team worthy of national television exposure in games that won’t also feature their former superstar.

And if we’re being technical, the Bucks’ second and final nationally televised game on Jan. 28, when Giannis returns to Milwaukee, will be on Amazon Prime Video, which isn’t the same as it being on ESPN, ABC, or NBC.

Bucks have only two nationally televised games

Taylor Jenkins and Co. might no longer be appointment viewing, at least from the league’s view, but it will probably actually be more fun to watch Milwaukee this upcoming season. The Bucks won’t be playing under the pressure of making another championship run or dealing with the outside noise.

It will be a nice change of pace to watch this team figure out who they are, and specifically, to see Brayden Burries and Nate Ament start their NBA careers. Of course, you can’t forget about Tyler Herro, Wisconsin’s own, who will have a chip on his shoulder after Miami traded him. The same goes for Jaime Jacquez Jr. and Kel’el Ware.

Watching the Bucks this upcoming season will be, dare I say, refreshing. It’s no surprise the NBA chose not to give them more than two nationally televised games, as that’s about what fans should’ve expected. Still, Milwaukee can start to turn the tide by laying the groundwork for what’s to come, which may be recognized by the league around this time next year.

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