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Bucks juggling point guard puzzle as Doc Rivers hints at surprise starter 4 Apr 27, 2025; Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA; Milwaukee Bucks head coach Doc Rivers reacts in the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers during game four of first round for the 2024 NBA Playoffs at Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-Imagn Images

Bucks juggling point guard puzzle as Doc Rivers hints at surprise starter

Originally posted on WI Sports Heroics | By Nathan Yasis | Last updated Oct 2, 2025 1:05 PM ET

The Milwaukee Bucks head into the season still searching for answers at point guard. They waived and stretched Damian Lillard, then used the cap space to land Myles Turner , but never secured a true floor general to replace him. That leaves them to sort out the position on the fly. When reporters pressed Doc Rivers on media day about his opening night starters against the Washington Wizards on Oct. 22, the Bucks coach sidestepped naming five players. Instead, he emphasized three different lineup options he feels confident rolling out.

After Tuesday’s opening training camp session, Doc Rivers hinted at part of his starting lineup. When asked about Kevin Porter Jr.’s role, the Bucks coach appeared to confirm that Porter will be among the starters to open the season.

“You think about Scoot (Porter Jr.) and his career, he started out as a high draft pick. He started,” the Bucks head coach said via The Athletic’s Eric Nehm when talking about Porter Jr.

Last season, Porter earned just two starts in 30 regular-season appearances for the Bucks and didn’t crack the starting lineup until Game 5 of their first-round series against the Pacers. The 25-year-old guard does bring experience with 150 career NBA starts, though 143 of those came during his stint with a struggling Houston Rockets squad from 2020 to 2023.

Bucks starters still not set

Bucks juggling point guard puzzle as Doc Rivers hints at surprise starter 5 May 11, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks tip-off to start game five of the second round for the 2022 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

“They put the ball in his hands. He could literally take any shot, and he did, you know? And now he comes from that, from not playing at times, coming off the bench, being out of the league, to now back to starting, and that’s a huge responsibility for him to run the team and still be aggressive.”

Outside of Porter, Rivers has kept quiet about the rest of the starting lineup. Kyle Kuzma even mentioned on Wednesday that Rivers still hadn’t spoken with him about what his role will be.

Bucks juggling point guard puzzle as Doc Rivers hints at surprise starter 6 Mar 24, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Kyle Kuzma (18) and forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) against the Phoenix Suns at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Turner are locked in for two spots in the Bucks’ frontcourt, leaving shooting guard and small forward up for grabs with plenty of contenders. Gary Trent Jr. and AJ Green joined Porter in the Game 5 starting lineup against the Pacers, while Taurean Prince (73 of 80 games) and Kuzma (32 of 33) were regular starters during the season and kept those roles in the playoffs.

Ryan Rollins also finished the year as the starting point guard. How those positions produce and how the pieces fit together will be key storylines to watch throughout the preseason.

This article first appeared on WI Sports Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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