Well, we made it. It wasn’t always pretty—and there was often more pain than pleasure—but the 2025-26 season has finally come to a close. Along the way, every major moment, every momentum-shifting play has been captured—here, in prose and picture. 10 volumes, 82 games’ worth. So, for one last time, enjoy reliving the moments that made this Bucks season what it was.
vs. Spurs
It’s a Saturday afternoon in Milwaukee and, with just 10 games left in the season and half the roster injured, Bucks fans have little
to get excited about. Ryan Rollins has been excellent all year, but that’s become expected now, the awe worn off. They do, however, have a recently-acquired lithe Frenchman who’s suddenly been thrust into a major role. He’s shown a lot too—flashes of lockdown D, a smooth stroke from three, ball handling and playmaking ability. It’s all there. He starts well too—two rebounds, an assist, a coast-to-coast and-one layup—and the Bucks are surprisingly hanging with the Spurs. But then, Julian Champagnie grabs an offensive rebound and finds 7’4” Victor Wembanyama, who’s determined to remind Bucks fans that he’s the only lithe Frenchman worth awing over. He grabs the pass—head full of steam—takes one dribble from behind the three-point line, eludes four Bucks, and drops a no-look, behind-the-back dime to Stephon Castle for the jam. Extraterrestrial stuff. And yet another crushing blow to Bucks fans’ spirits.
Win probability after Dieng’s and-one: 15.1%
Win probability after Wembanyama’s assist: 11.6%
vs. Clippers
Milwaukee is officially knocked out of playoff contention and welcomes the Los Angeles Clippers to Fiserv—the same team that whooped them by 33 just three games ago. That led by as much as 46. Making things worse, only eight players are available for the Bucks. Yeah, we know where this one’s headed. Still, Gary Trent Jr. has come for the fight, and has 15 points with just over a minute left in the half.
Shot clock off, Trent Ds up Bennedict Mathurin, who’s increased his scoring to 20 per game since coming over from Indiana. Trent locks in, plays Mathurin close—gets right up into him. Under his skin. So much so that Mathurin first pushes off and then—when that’s not called—clamps Trent’s arm in an attempt to create an advantage. Instead, it’s an offensive foul. Bucks ball. And Trent is barking. On the other end, Trent takes possession, dribbling right into a pull-up three that splashes twine with just 1.6 seconds left in the period. It’s his fifth three of the half and he is juiced, giving the Bucks the kind of momentum that, on another night, spurs them to a second-half charge and victory. Tonight, though, all it does is beg: where has this been all season long?
Win probability before Trent draws the offensive foul: 4.0%
Win probability after his three to end the half: 5.8%
vs. Mavs
The Mavs don’t want to win. The Bucks don’t want to win. And no one really cares about this game. But with 2:48 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Alex Antetokounmpo checks in for the first time ever and, suddenly, the most important man in Bucks’ history is invested. And so are you. 47 seconds later, he finds himself at the free throw line. Clank—yeah, he’s an Antetokounmpo. But the second is pure, Giannis is standing, and the whole damn building is cheering. 57 seconds later, he’s back at the line, this time sinking both. And, when the final siren rings, he’s got a better career free throw percentage than Giannis, Thanasis, and Kostas—and the Bucks have given Giannis yet another memory to tether him to Milwaukee.
Win probability before Alex checks in: 99.9%
Win probability after his first NBA point: 99.9% (though Giannis’ extension odds surely tick up)
@ Rockets
Forget the moment—this season is done. It’s all about the future. And tonight’s game gives oodles of reasons to be optimistic. Career highs for Ousmane Dieng, Pete Nance, and Cormac Ryan in scoring, a career high for Jericho Sims on the boards. In a road game against a top-six Western Conference opponent, in which the Bucks only really play six guys—and only lose by six—that’s a hell of a lot to like. Mostly, though, it’s Dieng’s fourth quarter—the way he takes control and nearly wills Milwaukee to victory: 17 points and three assists, living in the pick and roll for drive-by finishes at the rim and yank-back Js (all while guarding Kevin Durant on the other end). It’s cold-blooded; hypnotic. Future momentum. Personified.
Win probability after Jabari Smith gives the Rockets a 10-point lead to open the fourth: 6.1%
Win probability after Dieng’s 17-foot step back jumper cuts it to four: 9.6%
vs. Celtics
With the luck of the Irish on their side, the Boston Celtics have turned a season that was supposed to be turmoil—was supposed to be a gap year—into a second-place standing in the East. The Bucks… have not. And now they square off, the Bucks without Giannis, Rollins, KPJ, Portis, and Trent; the Celtics missing only Nikola Vucevic. More importantly, they’ve got their (normal) MVP candidate back, Jayson Tatum. He’s been slow to find his rhythm, shooting just 40% since returning from his Achilles injury, but he’s involved early—a rebound and an assist in the opening moments. Then, after Derrick White secures possession off a jump ball, he snaps the cords on a three. 11-3, Celtics. Timeout, Bucks. By the end of the quarter, the Bucks are on life support, down 43-26. By the end of the game, they’re long dead, and Tatum has dismantled them like a coroner: 23, 11, and nine, shooting 50% from both the field and three. Clinical.
Win probability after the opening tip: 15.1%
Win probability after Tatum’s three: 8.1%
vs. Grizzlies
It’s Easter Sunday and the rag-tag Grizzlies, trailing by just two, can sniff the chocolates. Lisa Byington senses it too: “The Bucks need a bucket.” Enter Jericho Sims. First, he gets to work, battling for rebounding position. Then, when the miss comes, he completes the contract (even if the refs call a holding foul that wipes away the offensive carom from the box score). Still, it’s Bucks ball. But they haven’t got that bucket, not yet. It’s only fitting, then, that Sims is the supplier, collecting the feed from Taurean Prince, rising up—head grazing the rim, of course—and slamming it down. It’s the start of a 35-21 run that secures a win for the Fiserv fans who need something sweet at this time of year. And, just when the crowd thinks it’s found all the eggs, Alex Antetokounmpo checks in and scores his first NBA field goal on an iso jumper. Then, on the next possession, he lobs one to Thanasis, who throws it down, and everyone goes home with their sweet tooth satisfied.
Win probability after the Grizzlies cut it to two: 64.9%
Win probability after Sims’ dunk: 70.6%
@ Nets
The Bucks have been under scrutiny for sitting a “healthy” Giannis. So what do they do? Against the Nets—a team that’s been ignored while fielding a roster full of guys you don’t even know are in the league—they sit seven of their top players and don’t even play a point guard, raising a big middle finger to everyone who’s taken umbrage at them. And to make it even better, they lose—which, paradoxically, makes them winners. Ha!
Win probability before the game: 57.8%
Win probability at the end of the game: 0.0% (and that’s the whole damn point)
@ Pistons
In the Preview and Game Thread I wrote about Sims as the “Player to Watch,” citing his excellence in points per shot attempt (99th percentile for bigs), effective field goal percentage (99th percentile), and assist to usage ratio (91st percentile), while also highlighting his pitfalls in steal percentage (9th percentile), block percentage (10th percentile), and turnover percentage (0th percentile), concluding that “if Sims can even marginally shore up these weaknesses, his efficiency alone could make him a far more impactful rotation piece moving forward.” Against the Pistons, there’s nothing marginal about it. Sims has himself a career night: 11 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists, and two steals—with just two turnovers to boot.
Win probability at any point: who cares? The Bucks are locked into the 11th or 12th spot anyway.
Win probability after Sims completes the triple-double: still irrelevant. But the growth? Momentous.
vs. Nets
As it turns out, the game isn’t between the Milwaukee Bucks and the Brooklyn Nets. No, it’s actually between the Bucks’ starting backcourt: AJ “Dairy Bird” Green and Cormac “If he keeps playing this well he’ll be a household name” Ryan. Ryan takes the cake early, exploding for 18 points in the first quarter alone, to just three for Green. And by the half he’s still well in front: 21 points to nine. By three-quarter time, the gap has narrowed—24-18—but Dairy Bird is now airborne. Then, in the fourth, he’s in full flight, skying for 17 points in the period, including five bombs. The last is his 11th for the game—a new Bucks franchise record—and, by the time the final whistle blows, they’ve both got new career highs. Combined, they put up 63 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists, and three steals, shooting 21/35 from the field and 16/25 from three. Goodness gracious.
Ryan’s win probability after the first quarter: 94.5%
Green’s win probability after the third: 44.3%
The real winner? Bucks fans.
@ 76ers
It’s not every day you’re better than Jesus.
First, Green nails a tough corner look over Paul George. Three No. 228. Nothin but. Second, Thanasis gets up for a block to start the transition opportunity and Ryan knows just what to do with it, finding Green who ties the franchise record. 229. Then, on their very next possession, Ryan finds him again for a transition look from nearly the exact same spot. It curls around the rim, bounces up off the backboard in slow motion—as if written by a screenwriter for tension—and hits rim once more on the way down before falling through the net. 230! All alone at the top. Dairy Bird. Then Jesus.
Despite a strong effort, the Bucks go on to lose the game. But they sure as hell got the moment.
Win probability to start the game: 20.4%
Win probability after Green surpasses Ray Allen: 24.8%
With the series coming to a close (at least in its current iteration), I’d like to thank you all for following along. It’s been a journey, especially as the velocity of the season came to a grinding halt slowed down. If this series has taught me anything, it’s that momentum comes in many forms—and sometimes when you least expect it. Perhaps then, despite all the frustrations of the season and all the worries we currently carry, this offseason will provide the Bucks something—a moment—that propels them back in the right direction. Here’s hoping they seize it.
Until then, which moment hit hardest in Volume 10? Cast your vote below and, as always, add your thoughts in the comments.
