The Milwaukee Bucks are making another attempt at the NBA Cup semifinals after falling short last season in Las Vegas. This time, their challenge is to stop one of the game’s most exciting players, Trae Young, and the Atlanta Hawks.
In their quarterfinal win against the New York Knicks, Young playfully rolled imaginary dice over the midcourt logo, celebrating the Hawks’ upcoming trip to Vegas. His showmanship is well-known, particularly to the Knicks, and the Bucks had a taste of his big-game capabilities during the 2021 Eastern Conference finals, though an ankle injury in Game 3 hindered his performance.
If Trae Young, also known as “Ice Trae,” has his way, the Bucks will be his next prime-time conquest. Young is currently averaging 21 points and 12.2 assists per game, a feat matched only by legends like Magic Johnson and Isiah Thomas over an entire season. He’s also supported by Jalen Johnson, who averages 19.8 points and a team-high 10.1 rebounds per game.
The Hawks, who secured the No. 3 seed in the NBA Cup knockout stage by going 3-1 in East Group C, are one of the league’s hottest teams, having won seven of their last eight games.
Conversely, the Bucks are the only remaining team that reached the NBA Cup semifinals in Las Vegas last season. Despite a 128-119 loss to the Pacers, last year’s experience has given them a better understanding of what’s required to win the NBA Cup. The Bucks topped East Group B with a 4-0 record and have turned their season around after a rocky 2-8 start, winning nine of their last 11 games, including victories over the Brooklyn Nets and Orlando Magic.
Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the NBA in scoring, averaging 32.7 points and 11.4 rebounds per game. Damian Lillard is also performing at an All-Star level, with 25.8 points and 7.6 assists per game. Bobby Portis (13.2 ppg) and Brook Lopez (11 ppg) are the other Bucks players averaging double figures.
