The Bucks begin their defense of the NBA Cup with a test

The third edition of the NBA Cup has already started, but there are still a lot of teams that have not started the competition. This is the case with Buckstitles, who will play the first match this Friday, against the Bulls. So it’s a good test since it’s Chicago the best team in the Eastern Conference with six wins for only one small loss.

“They’ll be ready. It’s a good team, that’s obvious. I like this Bulls team, it’s going in the right direction.”, says Chicago alum Bobby Portis. “They play well together. Josh Giddy has taken a huge step forward, this is his team now”adds Doc Rivers. “They are first in the East and we want to be”continues AJ Green. “They play well, fast and strong.”

For Milwaukee, it’s also the start of a title defense and a new competition, allowing them to breathe during the regular season. In the 2024/25 season, Giannis Antetokounmpo and his gang failed to take off, but they had at least won the NBA Cup against the Thunder.

« Two years in a row, the runner-up of the Cup was in the conference finals »

For Doc Rivers, playing hard in this tournament is not trivial. “It means a lot and it helps. Two years in a row, the runner-up of the Cup was in the final of the conference. He teaches lessons about high-pressure situations”the coach analyzes, facing the paths of Indiana in 2024 and apparently Oklahoma City in 2025.

“This game against the Thunder was Game 7 of the playoffs. It was intense.”insists Doc Rivers. “They said that this game changed their season. They realized that they were not strong enough, that they had to be physical, that they no longer dominated in this area. And then they won the title.”

And then it adds some spice, a little change to the long regular season, with the added bonus of a big sum at stake ($530,000 for each player) for the winner.

“We’re focused on these matches. When you’re competitive, you like it. It keeps you involved and gives you extra motivation during the season, to go to Las Vegas and put a little more money in your pockets.”concludes Bobby Portis.