The Milwaukee Bucks will open their season on Wednesday, October 21, when they travel to take on the Washington Wizards. The game begins at 7 PM ET and will air on MNMT, Monumental+, WCGV, and Bucks+.

For the first time since 2012-12, the Bucks will be without Giannis Antetokounmpo. The franchise legend and leader in multiple categories was traded to the Miami Heat in the offseason in exchange for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakučionis, the number 13 pick in 2026, a 2030 pick swap, 2031 & 2033 first-round picks, and a 2033 second-round pick.

Last year, the Bucks missed the playoffs last season for the first time since 2015-16, which was a catalyst for the offseason changes.

The Bucks are healthy to start the season, with only one name on the injury report.

Nate Ament is PROBABLE with a left ankle sprain. Ament was selected 13th overall by the Bucks in the 2026 draft. He played in two preseason games, scoring eight points in 14 minutes against the Timberwolves and three points in ten minutes against the Thunder before suffering the ankle injury.

The Bucks are expected to start Ryan Rollins, Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kyle Kuzma, and Myles Turner. They’ll likely play a deep rotation as new head coach Taylor Jenkins figures out who and what works. They have Kel’el Ware, Gary Trent Jr, Ousmane Dieng, Brayden Burries, Caris LeVert, AJ Green, Kasparas Jakucionis, and Ament all available to come off the bench.

While the Bucks will look much different, the Wizards will have the team they began piecing together at the end of last season.

Unfortunately for Washington fans, and fans of the NBA in general, they will be without the top overall pick.

AJ Dybantsa is OUT with a left ankle sprain. Dybantsa was selected first overall out of BYU in the 2026 draft. He averaged 12.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 steals over four preseason games.

Tristan Vukcevic is OUT with left hip impingement. On October 1, it was reported that he would be out for at least four weeks.

Jamir Watkins is OUT after undergoing left ACL surgery in July. He will likely miss the entire season.

The Wizards will likely start Trae Young, Kyshawn George, Bilal Coulibaly, Anthony Davis, and Alex Sarr. They have Bub Garrington, Tre Mann, Khris Middleton, Justin Champagnie, and Deandre Ayton coming off the bench.