Best Milwaukee Bucks Point Forward Podcast Podcasts (2025)

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Bucks waive Damian Lillard, sign Myles Turner in surprise free-agency maneuver (07.01.2025) 50:11

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22d ago50:11

50:11

Free agency has arrived! The Milwaukee Bucks made a splash on July 1, signing Myles Turner and waiving Damian Lillard to make it work. Lillard, who wasn't due back until late in the 2025-26 season, if at all, now becomes a free agent after two years with the Bucks. Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss i…

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What's different this time around for the Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo? (05.14.2025) 38:50

2M ago38:50

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Giannis Antetokounmpo is unhappy with the direction of the Bucks, but what does that mean for the offseason and what changes? Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel joins host JR Radcliffe to examine the latest on Antetokounmpo's state of mind. He hasn't asked for a trade, but are we sure he's back in 2025? Is there a deal out there that c…

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Can the Bucks stay competitive if Giannis Antetokounmpo stays? A look at Milwaukee's offseason (05.02.2025) 58:18

3M ago58:18

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What's the likelihood that Giannis Antetokounmpo is back next season, and is there any way the Bucks can compete for a title? The answers to those questions might surprise you. Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel joins host JR Radcliffe to examine the big decisions looming for the Bucks this offseason. How do the Bucks define "competiti…

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Damian Lillard's major injury: What does it mean for now and for next year? Here come Giannis rumors. (04.28.2025) 27:58

3M ago27:58

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Damian Lillard left Game 4 with what looks like a devastating injury, one that unquestionably makes a series win over the Pacers harder but also one that puts his 2025-26 season in jeopardy. Host JR Radcliffe and Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski discuss the heartbreaking development for Milwaukee and where they go from here. Can they still somehow prev…

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Emergency podcast: Damian Lillard gets wildly encouraging health news before playoffs start (04.17.2025) 12:09

3M ago12:09

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We assumed the Milwaukee Bucks would be without Damian Lillard for, at the very least, the first-round playoff series against the Indiana Pacers. Maybe we were wrong? News came Thursday that Lillard is cleared for basketball activity and is no longer on blood-thinning medication, part of a rapid recovery that could have him available very early in …

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Previewing the Milwaukee Bucks against the Indiana Pacers 45:16

3M ago45:16

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski, Indy Star reporter Dustin Dopirak and host JR Radcliffe discuss the upcoming playoff series between the Milwaukee Bucks and Indiana Pacers. Will we see a different result after last year's playoff matchup between the two teams? Who has to rise up with Damian Lillard sidelined for Milwaukee? How big of a deal is the riv…

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The Bucks are closing strong; how do we feel about a first-round playoff series in Indiana? (04.09.2025) 33:18

4M ago33:18

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe reflect on a great closing run for the Bucks, including a wild comeback Tuesday over Minnesota. Could this team win a first-round playoff series? It's looking like Indiana will be the opponent, and that creates a reasonable path. But what about Damian Lillard? Is the Kyle Kuzma deal shaping up to b…

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Just how worried should we be about the Bucks tumble to the sixth seed? (04.02.2025) 25:59

4M ago25:59

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe take inventory of the Bucks recent woes, even after a win over the Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. Is there hope that they dig themselves out of the sixth seed? Actually, there might be. Can Giannis Antetokounmpo simply will the Bucks to a first-round series win? Is there any hope Damian Lillard returns? …

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Damian Lillard's injury leaves Bucks in a tough spot with playoffs looming 31:06

4M ago31:06

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A calf injury to Bucks star Damian Lillard has cast a pall over the home stretch of the 2024-25 season. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the outlook for the Bucks and the ominous signs around the ailment. Plus, what's up with Kyle Kuzma? Another Brook Lopez renaissance? Could the Bucks win a theoretical first-round series …

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What's been ailing the Milwaukee Bucks during three straight losses? Plus: The tragic loss of Junior Bridgeman (03.12.2025) 30:34

4M ago30:34

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After three straight losses, the Bucks are left looking like a team that can't work deep into the postseason. What's missing? Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe try to assess the issues facing the Bucks and also dive into the sudden loss of former Bucks star and current team minority owner Junior Bridgeman. Music intro produced by O…

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How will NBA history remember Giannis Antetokounmpo? (03.06.2025) 36:24

5M ago36:24

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Giannis Antetokounmpo reached 20,000 points on March 5 for the surging Bucks, a career milestone that places him in elite company yet again. How big a benchmark is this one? Will history remember him as the definitive player of an era, or is he destined to only share the stage in history with Nikola Jokić? How the midrange jumper has changed his ap…

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The Bobby Portis suspension, Kevin Porter's ascension, Khris in D.C. and more (02.24.2025) 29:02

5M ago29:02

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss recent Bucks happenings on the Point Forward Podcast. What do people still need to know about the Bobby Portis suspension, and how badly will the Bucks eventually feel his absence? Even though Kevin Porter has a dubious history, Jim discusses what's made his time in Milwaukee work thus far.…

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The Bucks at the break: Giannis injury, new players on the court, All-Star Game (02.13.2025) 24:07

5M ago24:07

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski joins host JR Radcliffe to check in on the Milwaukee Bucks at the all-star break. How concerning are injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard? How has Kyle Kuzma and Kevin Porter looked in their first games with Milwaukee? What did Jon Horst say about the team's bevy of acquisitions at the trade deadline, in…

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How did trading Khris Middleton help -- or hurt -- the Milwaukee Bucks? (02.05.2025) 37:02

6M ago37:02

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In this emergency podcast, Bucks reporters Jim Owczarski and Lori Nickel join host JR Radcliffe to discuss Milwaukee's trade of postseason hero Khris Middleton to Washington in exchange for Kyle Kuzma, a deal that marks the end of a decade-long Middleton era in a Bucks uniform. How big a deal are the financial considerations? What did the Bucks gai…

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The trade deadline looms; is there anything out there that can help the Milwaukee Bucks? (02.03.2025) 27:28

6M ago27:28

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The Milwaukee Bucks have hit a rough patch; is there anything the trade deadline can do to alleviate what ails them? Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and host JR Radcliffe discuss the current state of the team, why the recent slump might not be as bad as it seems and what approach might best suit the Bucks at the trade deadline. Jimm…

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The Bucks are a top-four team in the East; can they sustain it? (01.21.2025) 27:10

6M ago27:10

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The Bucks have won four straight after a disappointing loss in New York, making them a top-four team in the East at the moment, so are they back to being a threat? Damian Lillard is cooking, Giannis is playing at an elite level and we're seeing the stars work well together. Plus: Checking in on the rumors of Jimmy Butler to the Bucks. Music intro p…

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Khris Middleton to the bench? Why the Bucks remain confounding (01.09.2025) 26:17

7M ago26:17

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The Milwaukee Bucks just won impressive back-to-back games, including against San Antonio and star Victor Wembanyama. But it's been tough sledding before that. What's the deal with Khris Middleton coming off the bench? Are Giannis and Dame actually clicking together on the floor? Are some struggles a question of effort? Could Jimmy Butler become a …

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Are the Bucks still a championship-caliber team this season? (12.30.2024) 24:01

7M ago24:01

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The Milwaukee Bucks are still in playoff position but have struggled to hit a second gear late in the 2024 calendar, with injuries and illness playing a role. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss how Khris Middleton has looked in his return, the state of the team and the trade deadline looming in February. Music intro produced…

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Bucks clinch spot in Vegas for NBA Cup semifinals; how Dame and Giannis have adjusted their games (12.11.2024) 25:12

7M ago25:12

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss a Bucks team that has won 8 of 10 games, including a win over Orlando on Tuesday that put the Bucks into the NBA Emirates Cup semifinals in Las Vegas. How has Damian Lillard changed his game to accommodate his new surroundings, and how has Giannis adjusted in turn? How big will this NBA Cup…

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Welcome back Khris Middleton! Plus, where's the MVP love for Giannis? (12.05.2024) 19:08

8M ago19:08

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the return of Khris Middleton; how slowly will he be eased back into the fold, and what does it mean for the Milwaukee Bucks? Plus: The Bucks have been strong lately, how the NBA Cup resonates with players in Year 2 and the surprisingly quiet rumblings around an MVP case for Giannis Antetok…

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Bucks are indeed back to .500, but what's the latest on injuries to Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton? (11.27.2024) 12:59

8M ago12:59

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The Milwaukee Bucks are on fire and back to .500 after a win over Miami on Tuesday, but they had to do it with Giannis Antetokounmpo. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski has the latest on injuries to Giannis and recovering Khris Middleton ... could we see Middleton on the floor soon? They chat about the recent successes and the plight of Pat Connaughton, …

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An errant whistle ruins one game, but vibes still trending up after Rockets win (11.19.2024) 22:19

8M ago22:19

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The Milwaukee Bucks got burned by a bad call in Charlotte (even the NBA thinks so, although it's still going to fine Doc Rivers for agreeing), but they got some good fortune in a narrow win over Houston, plus a game-winning bucket by newly returned Damian Lillard. The vibes are good, right? Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe take a …

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Giannis throws on a cape and drops 59 points as Bucks try to work out of funk (11.14.2024) 24:05

8M ago24:05

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Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 59 points, the second-best scoring output in Bucks history, and Milwaukee survived Detroit for a second straight win. It was a glorious individual effort, but was it actual progress for Milwaukee, now 4-8 on the season? Jim Owczarski and JR Radcliffe discuss it, from the emergence of Ryan Rollins to the shenanigans of P…

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Are there any signs of optimism for the struggling Milwaukee Bucks? (11.07.2024) 27:03

9M ago27:03

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Milwaukee Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe scratch and claw for any shreds of optimism as this team starts 1-6. Perhaps they find a glimmer of hope (or explanation), even with Khris Middleton and now Giannis Antetokounmpo nursing injuries. When will Khris be back? Is something up with Bobby Portis? Is there any scenario where Doc …

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What's going wrong with the Milwaukee Bucks in the early going? (10.29.2024) 23:09

9M ago23:09

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It's only four games, but the Milwaukee Bucks have been really rough to start the season, falling to 1-3 out of the gate. Is Khris Middleton really the primary answer to their woes? What's going on with Bobby Portis and Pat Connaughton? Are Giannis and Dame partially to blame? Is it a different vibe than last year, when a slow start portended serio…

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Khris Middleton's injury status and previewing the 2024-25 season (10.22.2024) 19:56

9M ago19:56

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe look at the Milwaukee Bucks' first week of the season, with battles coming against Philadelphia and Chicago. What's the deal with Khris Middleton's injury, and why does Milwaukee always seem to slow-play his return? Could the Bucks theoretically still thrive without him? What's a successful regular…

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Let's try that whole Giannis/Dame thing again; the preseason has begun 48:23

9M ago48:23

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski joins host JR Radcliffe to discuss the infancy of the Milwaukee Bucks season, with the games getting under way Oct. 23. National pundits don't seem to believe Milwaukee is a title contender this year; are they wrong, or has the window closed? What's the status of the Dame/Giannis relationship, and what about Khris Middl…

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The Bucks draft for the future and sign Delon Wright; is there more they can still do? (07.02.2024) 33:35

1y ago33:35

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The Milwaukee Bucks went young with their two draft picks, then stayed quiet in the first 48 hours of free agency. What does that say about where the Bucks are headed for 2024-25. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the draft selections of A.J. Johnson and Tyler Smith, plus the free-agent signing of Delon Wright. What's left …

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What will the Bucks do in the 2024 NBA Draft? (06.21.2024) 38:42

1y ago38:42

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Bucks writers Jim Owczarski and Ben Steele join host JR Radcliffe to discuss the upcoming NBA draft. Will the Bucks keep the players they select, and if so, which players are most intriguing? How does Milwaukee's financial situation play into the picture. Can they trade a veteran and still get better? Ben discusses what he expects for the Marquette…

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A sad goodbye to the 2023-24 Milwaukee Bucks season (05.06.2024) 53:29

1y ago53:29

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Snakebitten by injuries, the Milwaukee Bucks saw their 2023-24 season come to an unceremonious end in a 4-2 series loss to the Indiana Pacers. Was it just bad luck or something more fundamental? Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski gives a farewell to the season and also looks ahead. Will Milwaukee simply run it back? Is Jon Horst headed to Detroit? What d…

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Bucks vs. Pacers: The injury story lines, the bad blood, Tyrese Haliburton and more (04.19.2024) 41:06

1+ y ago41:06

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Pacers reporter Dustin Dopirak of the Indianapolis Star take a look at the looming clash between the two NBA squads in the first round of the 2024 postseason. What's the latest on the injuries? How have these teams changed since their regular-season meetings ended in early January? …

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Was Doc Rivers the right move? Lori Nickel discusses the Bucks' chaotic last year (04.18.2024) 31:03

1+ y ago31:03

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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel columnist Lori Nickel stops by to discuss the bigger picture of the Milwaukee Bucks after a chaotic 2023-24 season. Was firing Mike Budenholzer the right move? What about hiring Doc Rivers and quickly moving on from Adrian Griffin? What about the trade for superstar Damian Lillard? How will this offseason look if the Buck…

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Bucks playoff preview: When will Giannis be healthy and a matchup with the Pacers (04.16.2024) 46:09

1+ y ago46:09

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe dive into the first-round playoff series between Milwaukee and the Indiana Pacers. What's the latest on the injury to Giannis Antetokounmpo, and can they win the series without him? How will this moment impact the overall perception of Doc Rivers and Damian Lillard? What's changed since Indiana too…

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Bucks panic podcast! What's real and what's fake in Milwaukee's skid toward the postseason? (04.08.2024) 48:04

1+ y ago48:04

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Milwaukee Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the Bucks' woeful skid toward the postseason with a series of losses at the time of year teams want to be peaking. Is it a mirage, or have they really lost control of the season? What does this mean for Doc Rivers? For Damian Lillard? For the possibility that a championship window…

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Is Damian Lillard the key to Milwaukee returning to title-contender status? (02.23.2024) 53:56

1+ y ago53:56

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Jim Owczarski, Lori Nickel and JR Radcliffe discuss the Bucks at the all-star break, including Damian Lillard's massive weekend in Indianapolis. What's up with all these weird Bucks sound bites in all-star week interviews? Is this team courting some extra drama, and if so, does that means things have gotten a little desperate? Is the Bucks success …

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Patrick Beverley and the Bucks at the trade deadline. How concerned should fans be with slow start under Doc Rivers? (02.09.2024) 29:54

1+ y ago29:54

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the Milwaukee Bucks' maneuvers at the NBA trade deadline in this edition of the Point Forward Podcast. How will Patrick Beverley fit? What was the purpose of trading Robin Lopez if it doesn't put the Bucks in better financial position? How alarming is Milwaukee's recent play under new coach…

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Bucks make stunning change at head coach; Adrian Griffin out, Doc Rivers in (01.24.2024) 44:43

1+ y ago44:43

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The Milwaukee Bucks made a big splash on Tuesday, firing first-year head coach Adrian Griffin and replacing him with long-tenured coach and Marquette University alumnus Doc Rivers. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski joins host JR Radcliffe to break down the maneuver. Why was now the time to make a change? What did the Bucks get wrong about Griffin in the…

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The Bucks are in a slump. How do they get back to championship-caliber basketball? (01.09.2024) 58:11

1+ y ago58:11

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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reporters Lori Nickel and Jim Owczarski join host JR Radcliffe to discuss the slumping Milwaukee Bucks, who have lost 4 of 5 to start the 2024 half of the season and still haven't fully clicked despite a great record. What has to happen for the Bucks to get back on a championship path? What's the latest evaluation on head…

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Giannis scores 64 points and battles Indiana for the game ball in wild scene (12.14.2023) 50:21

1+ y ago50:21

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A wild scene unfolded at Fiserv Forum on Dec. 13, when Giannis Antetokounmpo set a Bucks single-game record with 64 points but then got into a heated exchange with the Indiana Pacers over possession of the game ball. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski discusses what he saw in the Bucks win, what in the world happened and whether or not it ties into the f…

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Did the Bucks and Adrian Griffin turn a corner after their rocky start? (11.20.2023) 48:56

1+ y ago48:56

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Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe are back to give an early-season progress report on the Bucks. After a shaky start, have they turned a corner? Specifically, has head coach Adrian Griffin rapidly evolved after some early struggles? How has the Damian Lillard-Giannis Antetokounmpo dynamic played out? How much thought and worry shou…

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Giannis signs extension for three more years and the 2023-24 season preview (10.24.2023) 1:09:26

1+ y ago1:09:26

1:09:26

Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe discuss the new extension for Giannis Antetokounmpo, one that caught everyone by surprise Monday night. Including the guys who already had a podcast ready to go ... oops. After discussing the elements that led Giannis to stay on in Milwaukee, they look at the season preview as a whole, including th…

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Emergency Podcast: Bucks trade for star point guard Damian Lillard (09.27.2023) 31:12

2y ago31:12

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The Milwaukee Bucks became the surprise winner of the Damian Lillard sweepstakes Wednesday, acquiring the Portland Trail Blazers star in a three-way deal that sent Jrue Holiday and Grayson Allen elsewhere. The Bucks now find themselves as the favorite to win the East, and maybe the NBA title. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski joins host JR Radcliffe to …

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How will the tax-apron situation impact Milwaukee and a look back at summer league (07.21.2023) 40:22

2y ago40:22

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What were the takeaways, if any, for the Milwaukee Bucks from the summer league? Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski is back from Las Vegas with some thoughts, limited as they might be for the 2023-24 regular-season Bucks. He talks about his conversation with general manager Jon Horst, including the revelation that the Bucks are past the second tax apron.…

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Khris and Brook are back, summer league is here and we have a lot to catch up on (07.10.2023) 52:11

2y ago52:11

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So much has happened since the last podcast, including the re-signing of Khris Middleton, Brook Lopez, Jae Crowder and ... surprise! ... Robin Lopez and Malik Beasley. Bucks reporter Jim Owczarski looks at the entire free agency situation and what it says about Adrian Griffin's coaching philosophy, Milwaukee's chances next year and the future of Gi…

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Bucks officially hire new head coach Adrian Griffin (06.07.2023) 44:22

2y ago44:22

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The Milwaukee Bucks officially have a new head coach with the announcement of Adrian Griffin as the lead man. Reporters Jim Owczarski and Lori Nickel were there, and they discuss with podcast host JR Radcliffe their takeaways from the press conference. How will he fit with the current roster (including the players who are free agents)? Will he fort…

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Let's discuss Adrian Griffin, reportedly the next head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks (05.31.2023) 34:29

2y ago34:29

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Jim, Lori and JR are back to discuss Adrian Griffin, the former Raptors assistant who's reportedly about to become the next head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. They talk about his fit as a player and a person, the role of Giannis Antetokounmpo in the search, the uncertainty of a hire without head-coaching experience, the accusations of domestic abus…

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The Bucks coaching search intensifies and forecasting the future of Giannis (05.22.2023) 56:13

2y ago56:13

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Admittedly, we recorded this just before news that the Bucks coaching search has zoomed in on Nick Nurse, Kenny Atkinson and Adrian Griffin, but Journal Sentinel reporter Jim Owczarski and host JR Radcliffe look at where things stand in the Bucks coaching search, what traits the team is looking for and what kind of timeline might exist for an annou…

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Mike Budenholzer is out at Bucks coach. We discuss every angle. (05.08.2023) 56:54

2y ago56:54

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While teams are playing in the conference semifinals, the Milwaukee Bucks are looking for a new coach. Quite the unexpected turn of events! Reporters Jim Owczarski and Lori Nickel join host JR Radcliffe to discuss the end of Mike Budenholzer's tenure with the Bucks after five seasons following a shocking first-round playoff exit, and we have many q…

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Disaster in Milwaukee: What went wrong in the Bucks shocking first-round playoff loss? (04.27.2023) 1:06:56

2y ago1:06:56

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The 2023 season is over, ending in a shocking five-game loss to the Miami Heat. Bucks reporters Jim Owczarski and Lori Nickel join host JR Radcliffe to discuss the improbable setback, capped by a 16-point meltdown in Game 5 at Fiserv Forum. What are the root causes for the loss? What do they make of Mike Budenholzer's decision not to use timeouts i…

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The Bucks are facing a 3-1 deficit and we are freaking out (04.25.2023) 47:51

2y ago47:51

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The Milwaukee Bucks are in a massive bind after a meltdown in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference first round, facing a 3-1 deficit and the prospect of being eliminated by the No. 8 seed. Jim Owczarski and JR Radcliffe discuss the shocking result, the injury and health status of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the struggles of Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday …