Bucks projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season

Milwaukee Bucks starting power forward; Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis Antetokounmpo is a two-time MVP, a Defensive Player of the Year, seven-time All-Star, seven-time All-NBA, and five-time All-Defensive player. When you have a player as decorated as he is in his prime, there’s no chance no one else is starting over him.

Giannis came off of one of his best seasons where he averaged 31.1 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 5.7 assists on 55/28/65 splits. He finished third in the MVP voting and was unanimously selected to First Team All-NBA for his fifth straight year, the only player to be unanimously selected more than three times in a row.

Giannis is easily a Top 20 player to ever play this game of basketball and the Bucks are so incredibly happy to have him. He’s going to do everything on the court, score, rebound, pass, defend at a high level. Giannis is the type of player to pour every ounce of his blood, sweat, and tears into every game and that is the perfect leader to have on your team.

Primary Bucks backup power forward: Jae Crowder

The Bucks picked up Jae Crowder midway through last season with a buyout from the Suns. In those 18 games he played Crowder averaged 6.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists on 48/44/83 splits.

Crowder is going to play a three-and-D role with the Bucks, which is the role he’s played for the majority of his career. Even though he is undersized for the power forward position, he is going to scratch and claw on every possession for every point, rebound or loose ball.

Others who could receive minutes: Bobby Portis

Milwaukee Bucks starting center: Brook Lopez

This is also another obvious choice for the Bucks as Brook Lopez came off of one of his best seasons of his career. He averaged 15.9 points, 6.7 rebounds, a career-best 2.5 blocks on 53 percent shooting from the field, a career-best 37 percent from 3, 78 percent from the free throw line, and finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year voting.

Lopez is the perfect center to have alongside Giannis because he can shoot threes. Lopez is one of the most unique centers in the league because there are not many who can make a high percentage of threes and also rim protect at an elite level.

Having Lopez along with Giannis, Middleton, Holiday and Allen easily makes this the best two-way starting lineup in the league. They have four All-Star caliber players along with three All-defensive/DPOY caliber players. There is no better fit at the center spot for the Bucks than Brook Lopez.

Primary Bucks backup center: Bobby Portis

The Bucks have one of the deepest lineups in the league and to make this team even more stacked, they have the best backup center in the league with Bobby Portis. Last season Portis averaged 14.1 points, 9/6 rebounds, 1.5 assists on 50/37/77 splits and finished third in the Sixth Man of the Year voting.

Portis is also perfect to play alongside Giannis because he can shoot well for his size, rebound, and defend at a high level. His versatility is very important to the Bucks because they can go big or small.

When they go big they can have a lineup of Holiday, Middleton, Giannis, Portis and Lopez or they could go small where Giannis plays more center than Portis. Having a versatile lineup where you can match up perfectly with any team that you face is extremely important in winning a championship.

Others who could receive minutes: Robin Lopez and Giannis Antetokounmpo

Robin Lopez was signed onto the Bucks again to play the third-string center for this team. He will get minutes if either Portis or Lopez get hurt. Even then his role is going to be very small for this team.

Giannis’ versatility is unmatched to most players in NBA history. His size, quickness, and IQ allow him to play all five positions. Out of all his “secondary’ positions, Giannis will see the most with him playing center. When he and Portis play together as the taller player he plays a little bit more center on the defensive side of the ball. If either Portis or Lopez gets hurt Giannis will see more center minutes throughout the season.