Kendrick Perkins, never one to mince words, recently dropped a bombshell on NBA discourse by declaring that “the Bucks are trash” and pointing the finger squarely at Giannis Antetokounmpo as the primary culprit. While some might dismiss Perkins’ take as hot-take sensationalism, a deeper dive into the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2024-25 season reveals that his assessment holds water. The Bucks, despite their championship pedigree, are floundering, and Giannis, as the team’s cornerstone, must shoulder much of the responsibility.
The Bucks’ Disappointing Season
As of April 27, 2025, the Milwaukee Bucks are languishing in the Eastern Conference standings, hovering around a .500 record—a far cry from their 2021 championship form. Once a dominant force, the Bucks have been plagued by inconsistent play, defensive lapses, and an inability to close out games against both elite and mediocre opponents. Losses to teams like the Charlotte Hornets and Washington Wizards—squads they should dispatch with ease—have become alarmingly common.
The Bucks’ offensive rating ranks in the middle of the pack, a surprising drop for a team with two former MVPs in Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard. Defensively, they’re even worse, sitting in the bottom third of the league in defensive rating. This is a stark contrast to their championship season, when their stifling defense, anchored by Giannis and Brook Lopez, suffocated opponents. The eye test confirms the numbers: the Bucks look disjointed, lacking the cohesion and intensity that once defined them.
Perkins’ blunt assessment that “the Bucks are trash” might sound harsh, but it captures the reality of a team that’s underperforming relative to its talent and expectations. The Bucks aren’t just struggling—they’re regressing, and the reasons point back to their superstar.
Giannis’ Role in the Bucks’ Struggles
Giannis Antetokounmpo, the two-time MVP and 2021 Finals MVP, is undeniably one of the NBA’s most dominant players. His ability to attack the rim, defend multiple positions, and elevate his game in clutch moments has made him a perennial All-NBA talent. However, even the best players can falter, and Giannis’ shortcomings this season are magnifying the Bucks’ woes. Here’s why Perkins’ finger-pointing at Giannis is justified:
1. Leadership and Accountability Leadership and Accountability
As the face of the franchise, Giannis is expected to set the tone for the Bucks both on and off the court. Yet, this season, his leadership has been inconsistent. Reports from the locker room suggest a lack of accountability, with Giannis occasionally deflecting blame rather than rallying his teammates. For example, after a blown lead against the Cleveland Cavaliers in March 2025, Giannis publicly criticized the team’s effort but failed to acknowledge his own late-game turnovers that sealed the loss. A true leader owns their mistakes, and Giannis’ reluctance to do so has created a ripple effect, eroding team morale.
Perkins, a former NBA champion, knows the importance of a superstar galvanizing their squad. His critique likely stems from seeing Giannis fall short in this intangible but critical aspect of leadership. Without a unified locker room, the Bucks lack the grit needed to overcome their on-court deficiencies.
2. Offensive Limitations
Giannis’ game, while dominant, has glaring holes that opponents have exploited. His lack of a reliable jump shot—particularly from beyond the arc—allows defenses to sag off him, clogging the paint and neutralizing Milwaukee’s offense. In the 2024-25 season, Giannis is shooting a career-low 20.3% from three-point range on minimal attempts, and his free-throw percentage has dipped to 65.7%. These deficiencies are especially costly in crunch time, where teams dare him to shoot, knowing he’s unlikely to deliver.
This isn’t a new critique of Giannis, but what’s alarming is the lack of progress. At 30 years old, he’s had ample time to develop a jumper or refine his free-throw shooting, yet these weaknesses persist. Perkins’ frustration likely stems from seeing a player of Giannis’ caliber fail to evolve in ways that could unlock the Bucks’ offense. With Damian Lillard struggling to find his rhythm in Milwaukee, Giannis’ inability to stretch the floor compounds the team’s spacing issues, making their half-court offense predictable and stagnant.
3. Defensive Regression
Giannis’ defensive prowess was once his calling card, earning him the 2020 Defensive Player of the Year award. However, this season, his defensive impact has waned. Advanced metrics like Defensive Box Plus-Minus show a decline, and film analysis reveals moments of disengagement on that end. Opponents are attacking Giannis more aggressively, exploiting his slower lateral movement and occasional lapses in help defense.
The Bucks’ defensive scheme relies on Giannis as a roving free safety, but his reduced effort has left Brook Lopez exposed in drop coverage and forced Khris Middleton to overcompensate on the perimeter. Perkins, a defensive stalwart during his playing days, likely sees this as a betrayal of the Bucks’ identity. If Giannis isn’t anchoring the defense, the entire system collapses, as evidenced by the team’s plummeting defensive rating.
4. Failure to Elevate Teammates
A hallmark of a true superstar is their ability to make their teammates better. LeBron James, Nikola Jokić, and even Luka Dončić consistently elevate lesser talents into key contributors. Giannis, however, has struggled to do this consistently. Players like Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton have regressed this season, and even Lillard, a former All-NBA guard, looks like a shell of himself alongside Giannis.
Part of this stems from Giannis’ ball-dominant style, which can stifle the offense. His high usage rate (around 33% this season) often leaves teammates standing around, waiting for kick-out passes that don’t always come. Perkins’ critique may reflect this dynamic: if Giannis isn’t facilitating or creating easy looks for others, the Bucks’ supporting cast can’t compensate for the team’s other flaws.
The Bigger Picture: What’s Next for the Bucks?
Perkins’ assessment, while blunt, is a wake-up call for Milwaukee. The Bucks are at a crossroads, and Giannis’ role in their struggles can’t be ignored. However, this doesn’t mean all hope is lost. Giannis is still a top-five player with the potential to turn things around. For the Bucks to salvage their season, a few things need to happen:
- Giannis Must Evolve Offensively: Developing a mid-range jumper or improving his free-throw shooting would force defenses to respect him beyond the paint, opening up the floor for Lillard and Middleton.
- Recommit to Defence: Giannis needs to rediscover his Defensive Player of the Year form, setting the tone for a Bucks defence that’s lost its edge.
- Stronger Leadership: Giannis must hold himself accountable and foster a culture of unity, ensuring the team fights through adversity together.
- Coaching Adjustments: Doc Rivers, the Bucks’ head coach, must also adapt. His rotations and late-game strategies have been questionable, and he needs to maximize Giannis’ strengths while masking his weaknesses.
- Stop stat padding: We have seen him in trash time in blowouts, we have seen him almost every game denying younger players the opportunity to gain experience. It has to stop. Maybe he needs to seek psychological help about it.
If these changes don’t materialise, the Bucks risk squandering their championship window. The NBA is unforgiving, and younger teams like the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers are surging. Perkins’ warning isn’t just a critique—it’s a call to action.
Perk is right
Kendrick Perkins’ declaration that “the Bucks are trash” and Giannis is to blame might ruffle feathers, but it’s rooted in uncomfortable truths. The Bucks’ mediocre record, coupled with Giannis’ offensive limitations, defensive regression, and inconsistent leadership, paints a picture of a team and a superstar failing to live up to their potential. While Giannis remains a generational talent, his flaws are holding Milwaukee back, and Perkins’ bluntness shines a light on that reality.
The good news? There’s still time for Giannis and the Bucks to turn things around. If Giannis can address his shortcomings and recommit to leading by example, Milwaukee could reclaim its place among the NBA’s elite. Until then, Perkins’ assessment stands: the Bucks are under performing, and Giannis, as their cornerstone, bears the brunt of the blame. Let’s hope this is the wake-up call they need to get back on track. Can Giannis improve? Can he learn new skills? More than a decade in the NBA shows he probably can’t.
From Twitter, people recently saying the same thing :
