By the Numbers: Milwaukee's Net Rating, Payroll, and Two…

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Friday, October 9

Milwaukee is still 0-0 with the regular season eleven days off, so the clearest read on this team right now comes from last season's numbers and this summer's roster math. Six figures trace what the Bucks were, what they paid to change it, and which reserves earned more trust late.

Bucks Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Last season

Milwaukee finished 32-50, and the room the Bucks are trying to leave behind shows up in two numbers: a 112.2 offensive rating and a 118.3 defensive rating, netting out to -6.1, 25th in the league. Pace sat at 98.3. None of that measures the new roster; it measures the one that got dismantled in June.

Last season, in the box score

Ryan Rollins led the holdovers at 17.3 points and 5.6 assists over 74 games, shooting 40.6 percent from three. Kevin Porter Jr. matched him with 17.4 points and 7.4 assists, though in only 38 games. Tyler Herro scored 20.5 a night in 33 games last season, before Milwaukee traded for him in June. Volume says who produced; none of the three totals says who stays healthy.

Late last season

In Milwaukee's final ten games last season, Jericho Sims played 28.9 minutes a night, up from his season norm. Pete Nance climbed to 28.2 minutes over the final five. Taurean Prince added eight minutes a night in the final three games whenever a teammate sat out. Each number marks a coach leaning on a reserve; none promises the same role once games count again.

This summer

The June 23 trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami for Herro, Jaquez, Kel'el Ware and Jakucionis reset the books. Milwaukee now carries $193.8M in salary, over the $165.0M cap but shy of the $200.4M tax line, led by Herro's $33.0M deal. Being below the tax leaves room to add; it does not mean the Bucks intend to.

Now

None of that changes the record: Milwaukee sits 0-0, with twenty-one players on the roster and the regular-season opener eleven days away. The numbers above are the raw material Taylor Jenkins has to work with, not a verdict on how it all fits together.

Next Milwaukee's next game is preseason at Charlotte on October 11, with the regular-season opener set for October 21 at Washington.

What is Milwaukee's record to start the 2026-27 season?

The Bucks are 0-0; the season has not started, and their only games so far are preseason.

How much salary are the Bucks carrying this season?

Milwaukee's payroll totals $193.8M, above the $165.0M salary cap but under the $200.4M tax line.