Milwaukee Bucks: A Juggernaut in the Making
By Greg Chin
The Milwaukee Bucks have been the surprise team of the 2014-15 season. Last season was the worst in franchise history, as they recorded just 15 wins, and finished with a 0.183 winning percentage. The team was a mess and commenced a rebuilding phase, hoping to restore the team back to its former glory.
More from Milwaukee Bucks
- NBA Rumors: 3 teams emerge as most-likely Giannis destinations
- 7 players the Milwaukee Bucks gave up on far too soon
- Report: Bucks, 76ers, and Suns all vying to land this championship coach
- 5 potential candidates for Bucks’ head coach
- NBA Rumors: Milwaukee may overhaul roster after early playoff exit
However, no one expected the team to be so good so quickly. They matched last season’s win total by Dec. 26 and are now sixth in the Eastern Conference. With a 3.5-game buffer between them and seventh place, it is likely that the Bucks will find their way into the Eastern Conference playoffs.
That said, the good news doesn’t stop there. Their current starting lineup of Michael Carter-Williams, Khris Middleton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Ersan Ilyasova, and Zaza Pachulia features three players younger than 23.
Throw in John Henson, Jabari Parker, Tyler Ennis, and Damian Inglis, and you have one of the youngest rosters in the NBA (average age of the roster is 25).
The best part about this roster is that the core group (Antetokounmpo, Middleton, Parker, MCW) are all set to reach their athletic primes around the same time. The Bucks have unintentionally stumbled upon the same path that the Oklahoma City Thunder took to stardom, by drafting and filling their roster with similarly-aged talented youngsters.
And just one season into the rebuilding process, things are moving on a fast schedule.
Next: Antetokounmpo