The Milwaukee Bucks captured attention this offseason by signing Myles Turner to a four-year, $107 million contract. The action indicates a change in Milwaukee’s frontcourt following the departure of Brook Lopez in free agency, and it combines Giannis Antetokounmpo with one of the top shot-blockers in the NBA.
Turner just finished another strong season in Indiana, with averages of 15.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. His knack for stretching the floor, with close to 35% from three-point range, creates spacing that may free up driving lanes for Giannis. During the 2025 NBA Playoffs, Turner’s stats fell a bit to 13.8 points and 4.8 rebounds, yet his rim protection stayed top-notch, blocking two shots each game.
Giannis Antetokounmpo and Myles Turner: A Fresh Frontcourt Dynamic in Milwaukee
Giannis Antetokounmpo, in the meantime, remains the cornerstone of the Milwaukee Bucks at an MVP caliber. Last season, he averaged 30.4 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game while shooting over 60% from the field, once more demonstrating he’s one of the league’s most dominant players. Nonetheless, despite his supremacy, the Bucks have stumbled in recent playoff appearances, having difficulties with defensive reliability and secondary scoring when defense focuses on their star player.
The addition of Myles Turner specifically tackles two of the Bucks’ shortcomings: defensive presence in the paint and floor spacing. In contrast to Brook Lopez, Turner is younger and more agile, offering Milwaukee a defensive centerpiece who can also pull rival bigs away from the rim. This should provide Giannis with additional space to drive to the basket while easing the burden on the Bucks’ outside shooters.
Nonetheless, Turner isn’t the main scorer, and with Damian Lillard gone from Milwaukee, greater responsibility will shift to role players to maintain defensive integrity. Turner’s addition is a positive move, but whether it’s sufficient to make the Bucks contenders again will hinge on how effectively the team surrounding Giannis adjusts to its new role.
