Doc Rivers says one Bucks player was phenomenal and it’s not Giannis Antetokounmpo

“He was great. Kyle Kuzma was phenomenal tonight. His playmaking, he got to the basket, made some layups, and that’s great. But I just thought his rolls to catch the pass, his dribble penetration, the pass was fantastic,” Doc Rivers remarked during his post-game availability.

Even without a starting role, Kuzma proved he can command Milwaukee’s second unit with confidence. His energy and production off the bench are vital for Rivers, who depends on consistent team efforts to keep Giannis from carrying too much of the load.

Doc Rivers praising Kyle Kuzma for leading the Bucks bench

“I actually thought the second group got away from that one stretch and that’s when Washington made a run. They should have gone right back to it,” the Bucks coach continued.

Kuzma once carried the label of a rising star, and during his time with the Wizards, he regularly produced 20-point outings. Now in Milwaukee, with no established second option behind Giannis, he faces the challenge of proving he can bring that same high-level impact every night.

His scoring and ball distribution off the bench could supply the offensive boost Milwaukee needs to stay in contention within the Eastern Conference.

With Kevin Porter Jr. sidelined due to injury, Kuzma now has an opportunity to step up and prove his value to this retooled Bucks roster.

If Kuzma can maintain the level of play he showed in the season opener, the Bucks might finally have the steady scoring depth they’ve been missing in recent years as they continue building a championship-contending roster around Antetokounmpo.

Myles Turner also made a strong impression in his Bucks debut, posting 11 points, eight rebounds, and five assists in 29 minutes. The former Pacers big man looked comfortable in his new role, and much of that success stemmed from the chemistry he built early with Antetokounmpo.