Bucks at Hornets
The Milwaukee Bucks and the Charlotte Hornets both disappointed relative to expectations last season, leading to head coaching changes and roster tinkering from both clubs. The Hornets will kick off the James Borrego era by hosting Mike Budenholzer and the Bucks on Wednesday.
Budenholzer, who spent the previous five seasons as the head coach of the Atlanta Hawks and guided that franchise to the playoffs four times, inherits a roster that includes one of the most exciting young players in the NBA, Giannis Antetokounmpo. "We’re just getting to know each other, but my first impression of him is that he is very much like (other great players I've coached) mentally," Budenholzer told Yahoo Sports. "His approach to the game, his desire to be great, his competitive spirit, the way he treats his teammates. I’m beyond impressed with how he stacks up. His characteristics stand out to me." Like Budenholzer, Borrego is a former assistant coach from the San Antonio Spurs and lured a former pupil over when the Hornets signed veteran point guard Tony Parker. Parker, 36, spent the first 17 seasons of his career with the Spurs and is trying to bounce back after averaging career lows of 7.7 points and 3.5 assists in 2017-18.
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Southeast (Charlotte)
ABOUT THE BUCKS (2017-18: 44-38): Antetokounmpo led Milwaukee in points (26.9) and rebounds (10 per game) while shooting 52.9 percent from the floor and increased his averages in those categories in each of his first five seasons. Antetokounmpo, 23, and veteran swingman Khris Middleton, who averaged 20.1 points during the 2017-18 campaign, were given a chance to sit down with Budenholzer before the team formally offered the coach a contract. Those two are expected to lead the team along with point guard Eric Bledsoe, who averaged 17.8 points and 5.1 assists during his first season with the team in 2017-18.
ABOUT THE HORNETS (2017-18, 36-46): Parker will serve as the backup to point guard Kemba Walker, who repeatedly expressed his desire to stay with the franchise that drafted him as trade rumors swirled last season. Walker, 28, averaged 22.1 points and 5.6 assists last season to carry the team as Nicolas Batum and Cody Zeller battled injuries. Zeller, 26, enters the season healthy and is expected to shoulder a much bigger load on both ends of the floor after Charlotte waived goodbye to Dwight Howard in the offseason.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Milwaukee acquired SG Jodie Meeks from the Washington Wizards on Monday but is expected to waive the 31-year-old veteran.
2. Borrego is the first Hispanic head coach in NBA history.
3. The teams split four meetings last season, with the home team winning each contest.