Deer Diaries: A Milwaukee Bucks Podcast

After Sunday’s NBA Draft Lottery, we now know that the Milwaukee Bucks will be picking at no. 10 in the NBA Draft. Our draft guys, Jack and Finn, react to what this means for the Bucks and Giannis, along with how the rest of the lottery shook itself out.

A familiar face is back in Milwaukee to lead the Bucks, and his name is Taylor Jenkins. Now that the team has made it official, Jack and Van are here to break down the hire and what it means for the Bucks going into 2026.

The long season of suffering is over, so Kyle and Jack recap AJ Green's record-breaking games and the emergence of Cormac Ryan. Then they have a lengthy discussion on Doc Rivers' departure as Head Coach of the Milwaukee Bucks. They talk about how his hiring was doomed to fail, the many faults during his tenure, and how he created a toxic environment. Then they figure out how the Bucks select their head coach, given the uncertainty of whether they will have Giannis Antetokounmpo and whether the team will rebuild. The two also hope General Manager Jon Horst gets to make the final selection. Then they reflect on the season and look at what went well and what non-Doc/Giannis things went wrong before Kyle gives one last film review talking about Super Mario Galaxy and how people need to understand who the target demographic was.

Kyle and Jack meet to talk about the games Milwaukee played, prompting them to question whether they are really tanking. The two have an extensive discussion about all the news, rumors, and airing of grievances from the Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo regarding his lack of playing. Is there one side that is more in the right while both sides protect their egos? Should Giannis stop being a diva and simply request the trade he wants? Do the Milwaukee Bucks have the right to not risk their star player, who is not 100% healthy? Who knows, but then Jack talks about the heartbreaking end of the 36ers season, and Kyle really explains the Secret Lives of Mormon Lives.

As the Bucks are officially eliminated from Playoff Contention, Jack and Jackson go through the stretch of games and see how the tanking is going and how the future of the Bucks are taking shape.

The Bucks are on the brink of elimination, which means lifeless performances. Kyle and Jack meet to discuss the positive showings against the Cavaliers and Suns, but the dreadful showings against the Utah Jazz and LA Clippers. They discuss how the tank is on, and everybody is ready for the offseason. The two call out the hypocrisy of the NBA Players Association being upset with Giannis not playing for the Bucks, citing tanking concerns, Wes Edens' statement on Giannis' future, and go through Cam Thomas being cut and Pete Nance getting his two-way contract converted. To end, Jack talks about the 36ers shocking series win, and their chances in the NBL Finals, and Kyle reviews Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man

Amid two more dispiriting losses in a lost season, Jack and Van wonder if ball movement really helps this team win, then look on the bright side by looking at the week for three Bucks. Jack also teaches us three new Australian slang terms, discusses the Adelaide 36ers NBL Playoffs series, and Van has another entry in the Warped Tour: Roy Orbison's "Southbound Jericho Parkway."

The real joy of the Milwaukee Bucks winning eight of 10 was the friends we made along the way. After their best stretch of the season, the Bucks have lost three straight games in blowout fashion. Jackson and Jack return to break down Giannis' first game back, the inexplicable rotation decisions, Doc Rivers’ role in this sudden downturn, and where they go from here. They also talk about how the Bucks' lack of pace and defense is hurting them, and how that compares to the Bucks of old. Jack then delves deep into the insanity that is the Australian Football League draft.

The Milwaukee Bucks are back from All-Star Weekend and have gone 1-1 in the two games since. Jackson and Jack break down the highs of beating down on the Pelicans, but discuss the true reality of this team after getting blown out by the Raptors. The pair also talks about the intriguing young talent this team now has and the maddening dynamics of power within the Bucks organization.

After thinking last week was the Milwaukee Bucks' best week, somehow they topped it. Kyle and Morgan discuss the Bucks' impressive wins over the Orlando Magic and Oklahoma City Thunder back-to-back on the road. They talk about how this team is providing joy and is fun to watch while praising the performances of Ousmane Dieng, Cam Thomas, and Jericho Sims. Morgan then explains the similarity between Dieng and old friend, DJ Wilson, as Kyle expands on the theory. Then, after predicting the post-All-Star games. Morgan explains his time in Austin, Texas, while Kyle discusses Dateline as he is starved of movies.

The Bucks made it through last week, winning all of their games and still having Giannis Antetokounmpo on the team. After questions which of his investments was worse, Kyle and Jackson discuss how winning is still a good thing even if it means not having the best draft lottery results. They also discuss the influx and contributions of young players and how that can set up the Bucks for the future. Then they discuss the acquisiton of Ousmane Dieng and their fond memories of Cole Anthony and Amir Coffey. At the end, the two discuss the Super Bowl, Ghost of Yoeti and a surprise announcement for the NBA 3 pt shootout compeition.

With Giannis out, the Bucks predictably finished the week with three straight losses. Jack and Jackson are back to recap the week and to discuss where the Bucks stand heading into Thursday’s trade deadline. Jack voices his displeasure with the seeming lack of accountability from Doc Rivers and upper management. Jackson discusses the Bucks' tanking and their strategy for the rest of the season.

It was an ugly week of basketball for the Milwaukee Bucks, with them getting blown out in back-to-back games by the Spurs and Timberwolves. Jackson and Jack are here to break down what went wrong and a little bit of what went right in their lone win of the week against the Hawks on Monday. They also discuss the Bucks' potential stealth tank and Pete Nance’s first significant playing time this season. With no new Legos to show off, Jackson returns to recap the end of the Chicago Bears’ season, after they lost 20-17 in the NFC Divisional Round. Jack is back with another word from the land down under in What’s that Aussie Slang?

The Milwaukee Bucks just wrapped up their four-game trip to the West Coast, going 2-2 in the process. Despite that, they had their chances to go 3-1 or even 4-0. Jackson and Kyle break down the good and the bad from the last three games of the trip. Jackson brought up the Bucks' lackluster record against teams with a positive net rating, while Kyle raises concerns with the volatility of the perimeter offense. The pair then wraps up with a discussion of the final season of Stranger Things and Jackson’s latest LEGO build!

In the first week of games since Giannis' return, the Milwaukee Bucks went 3-1. While the Bucks had their most successful part of the season since October, it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. Jack and Jackson break down Giannis' play and how he could attack defenses in a much different way. The pair also talks about how important the last stretch of games was for their chase to get back into the playoffs and play-in tournament. Jack also talks about his thoughts on the Bucks trading for Jerami Grant after writing his trade candidate piece, and Jackson gives a sneak peek at his Zach LaVine trade candidate article. Lastly, Jackson shows off his biggest Lego Star Wars set to date, while Jack brings in a cheeky Aussie slang word.

The Milwaukee Bucks had a positive week. With wins against the Indiana Pacers and Chicago Bulls sandwiching a loss to the Grizzlies. Kyle Jackson and Van discuss these games and the surprising return of Giannis Antetokounmpo from his calf injury. Then they discuss how Giannis can help the team, but Doc Rivers needs to do a better job at playing and utilizing the other players more. Then wonder why can't Doc play Ryan Rollins and KPJ together when the numbers suggest otherwise.Van throws some counterpoints to Kyle and Jack's discussion of trades the Bucks could make, along with the Bucks' draft history, comparing it to other successful, competent organizations. The three try to figure out if any potential trade targets are worth either taking on extra salary with or giving up a future first-round pick for. To wrap it up, Jackson builds a Star Wars LEGO set, Van goes to Turkey for the Warped Tour, and Kyle reviews the 2007 comedy Knocked Up. Thanks for listening, and Happy New Year.Van's Warped Tour: Athena Holigan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AmjkeJ8MeBg

The Milwaukee Bucks keep finding ways to put themselves on the naughty list. Kyle and Jack discuss their two losses to the Raptors and Timberwolves and how the Bucks are struggling on offense in various ways. Then they discuss Giannis' new injury update and how the extended absence can make things more complicated for the Bucks with Giannis' media appearance now giving Bucks fans complete reassurance.Jack highlights how the Bucks being "buyers " is a lose-lose situation for the short and long-term, while Kyle wonders if the Bucks have hit rock bottom and, if not, what will it take to get there.Then, to end, Jack has some more Aussie slang, Kyle reviews a classic Christmas movie, and they try to predict the road games this week.We appreciate you listening and wish you a Happy Holidays.

After a brutal 45-point loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday, Jackson and Finn are ready to pull the plug on Doc Rivers as head coach. From the frustrations of how Doc runs the team, the inability to get the most out of his players, and the seeming lack of accountability, they break down why Rivers shouldn't be commanding this sinking ship. There was also plenty of trade news about the Bucks, so Jackson and Finn broke down the latest news and what potential deals would look like for the players the Bucks have already been linked too. Finn's Badger Bites returns with a fantastic sushi place, while Jackson combines his football roundup with a future build on the way.

It was an eventful week for the Milwaukee Bucks, and the duo of Jack and Jackson is here to break it down. From an unacceptable loss to the Wizards, a comeback win without Giannis, and two let-down losses, all under the backdrop of intensifying trade rumors around Giannis. They also analyze the maddening lack of use of Myles Turner and Doc Rivers’ center rotations, and why, among other reasons, he should be fired. To end off the pod, Jack brings two more Aussie slang words to the table, while Jackson switches it up and breaks down the current state of the Chicago Bears after their heartbreaking loss to the Green Bay Packers.

It was a rough week for the Milwaukee Bucks, but Kyle, Jack, and Van at least found a positive as the Bucks ended the week with a win. They discuss what the Bucks can do to improve their rebounding. How much the personnel and rotations can be tweaked, and with the return of Kevin Porter Jr., where does that leave Ryan Rollins and Cole Anthony?Then Jack teaches some Aussie Slang, Kyle highlights the most recent season of the Great British Baking Show, and Van takes us to the UK Punk Rock scene in the 80s, talking about The Stranglers. Golden Brown by The Stranglers: https://open.spotify.com/track/5GpfyJrKHJI36jDKtQiyGN?si=19b732ff17e34063

It’s been a tough road for the Milwaukee Bucks in the first two and a half games without Giannis Antetokounmpo; they’re 0-3 and sit at 8-9. In the latest edition of Deer Diaries, Jackson and Jack break down the struggles the Bucks have been having, including the lack of involvement on offense from Myles Turner, the rough play of Cole Anthony, and the pressure that’s been placed on Ryan Rollins. The two answer the question of whether the Bucks should be involved in getting one of the two bigger players in the reported Sacramento Kings sell-off: Zach LaVine or DeMar DeRozan. Before the end of the show, Jack debuts his new segment called "What's that Aussie Slang?" while Jackson shows his second Lego set he had to rebuild.

It was an up-and-down week for the Milwaukee Bucks, where they went 2-2 with two of them being the second game of a back-to-back. Jackson, Jack, and Morgan discuss the issues on both sides of the ball, which area the Bucks should focus on the most, and the confusing rotations that Doc Rivers has been implementing. Morgan then talks about his trip to Utah and the national parks he hiked through with his Dad. Jack and Jackson throw out a few curveballs with their segments, with Jackson showing a Lego Build he had to remake and Jack bringing up a grammar debate about coach’s challenge or coaches challenge in the NBL.

After a 2-2 week, which could have been 3-1 or 1-3, Kyle and Jack go through the Bucks' week that saw a game-winner, a fourth quarter collapse, and everything in between. They discuss Milwaukee's late-game offensive plan and identity, and how sustainable it is. They also question the defensive assignments some players have and whether that's the best option for the team. With an underrated showing this season, is the Kyle Kuzma rehabilitation project going well? What could throw a wrench into those plans, such as playing him at the 3? Then Jack gives his updates on the 36ers, and then they discuss season 2 of the Netflix rom-com "Nobody Wants This"

Kyle, Jackson, and Jack are here to discuss the Bucks' accomplishment of another 2-1 week. They talk about the great week that Ryan Rollins had, setting a career high in points twice, including a 32-point showing in Giannis Antetokounmpo's absence. Then they discuss the Bucks' offense and the ebbs and flows of a three-point shooting-reliant team, along with the ball sometimes getting in the way of the offense, as seen against the Kings. They then touch on the disaster of a refereeing job that happened in the Kings game and give props to Kyle Kuzma (yes, that happened) while highlighting the defensive flaws on the perimeter.Then, during the miscellaneous topics, Jack recaps a week of Australian basketball, Jackson recommends a LEGO set gift, and Kyle explains the messy season of Love Is Blind.

The first three regular-season games have come and gone for the Milwaukee Bucks, sitting at a 2-1 record. Jackson and Jack bring on writer Finn Kuehl to break down the Bucks' wins over the Washington Wizards and Toronto Raptors, as well as their lone loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The trio discusses the greatness of Giannis, how Myles Turner is fitting himself into the team, and the frustrating play of big man Bobby Portis.If you’re a fan of our miscellaneous segments, we have three on tap for you! Finn debuts his Badger Bites, while Jack tells us of the Adelaide 36ers’ surprise signing of Bryce Cotton and what it means for them. While he doesn’t have a Lego set on hand, Jackson tells you some to look out for as the Holiday season approaches.

For the last edition of the season preview series, Kyle made sure to have a reunion with former Deer Diaries co-hosts Riley Feldmann and Adam Paris. While discussing the potential opening and closing lineups, the group come to terms that Kyle Kuzma might be the most important Buck role player on the team. They wonder if this will be Giannis' last season as a Buck and plan to enjoy the time they have before Riley reviews a fountain pen(cil) to wrap things up.

This season preview series continues as Kyle and Van are joined by returning guest and current Bucks Play-by-play announcer Lisa Byington. The group breaks down the importance of AJG, the prove it year for KPJ, and the strengths and weaknesses for the Bucks before talking about how important health will be for the team.

The season preview series rolls on, as Jackson and Van are joined by returning guest, former Bucks Play-By-Play Announcer Jim Paschke. The trio breaks down what a potential Myles Turner and Giannis pick-and-roll could look like, what Jim remembers about Greg Anthony with his son Cole now in a Bucks jersey, and what could be in store for AJ Green this season. Jackson also channels his inner Myles Turner with the return of Jackson’s Builds, and Jim officially stamps Paschke’s Passport as a recurring segment on the podcast!

In our latest installment of the season preview series, Jackson sits down with Brew Hoop (and podcast) newcomer Dan Simmons! The pair runs down the usual gambit of season preview topics while having some fun along the way.

We continue our Season Preview Series and are joined by a returning guest. Gale Klappa, the host of Courtside with Gale Klappa on Bucks +, joins Van to go through our usual topics of the season preview. Then, near the end, we have a Van's warped tour featuring "Tweeter & The Monkey Man" by The Traveling Willburys. In that moment, Van takes Gale so literally that it might cause some embarrassment.

For this season preview episode, Van takes on hosting duties and is happy to be joined by the host of Locked On Bucks Camille Davis and Justin Garcia. They go through the usual season preview series questions, but then add in their simulation station, where they talk about what is happening in WWE and 2k. We appreciate Justin and Camille for being on and encourage you all to listen to Locked On Bucks, if you don't already, which how could you not, and we will continue our Season Preview series in the lead up to the new season.

As Giannis gets underway at EuroBasket, we have new Brew Hoopers Finn and Drew . The two have more faith in Kyle Kuzma than anyone I know, based on his importance to the squad and fit in the lineup. As always with the preview, they see what the Bucks' strengths and weaknesses are, Myles Turner's fit, and what to expect from Giannis this upcoming season. Then Kyle's Film Review is back and he talks about the action pack F1 movie.

Jack and Jackson are joined by fellow Brew Hooper and offseason content GOAT, Morgan, to continue our Season Preview Series. They discuss lineups, Myles Turner's impact, Giannis Antetokounmpo's facts, along with the strengths and weaknesses of the Bucks. Then, in this edition of Where in the World is Morgan, he talks about a small countryside village in the United Kingdom named Edale. If you are a fan of hiking and pies, then this is the place for you!

Managing Editor Van was able to speak with Kris and Marques Johnson, yes THAT one, from Hear District, to talk about the upcoming season. There are questions about the starting lineup and playoff lineup, what Myles Turner will bring, and the statistics to expect from Giannis. Then they see what the Bucks' record and standings will be and discuss some films.

Jack and Finn watched all the summer league, so you didn't have to. They go through the pros and cons of Vegas and which players looked good and who left a lot to be desired. Then discuss Kyle Kuzma for some reason.

Jackson and Jack met over the weekend to discuss more of the Bucks Free Agency moves. Shortly after it's announced that he is returning, they talk about Ryan Rollins' new deal. Then, there are the surprising returns of Gary Trent Jr., Taurean Prince, and Kevin Porter Jr. There is also talk about Pat Connaughton and his departure to the Charlotte Hornets.

NBA Free Agency has begun and the Milwaukee Bucks created the biggest headlines. Van and Jackson break down the Center moves between Bobby Portis returning, Brook Lopez departing and the surprise acquisition of Myles Turner. But first the HUGE shock of the Bucks waiving Damian Lillard to make the Turner signing possible.

Jack Trehearne is joined by one of Brew Hoop's newbies Finn Kuehl, and talks about the Milwaukee Bucks' quiet 2025 NBA Draft. They discuss the selection of 19-year-old Serbian Bogoljun Markovic. They wonder what prompted the Bucks to draft him and where he fits in their plans both for 2025 and the future. After all of that, they look at the other moves around the league that happened on Draft Night and hope Jackson is alright.

In what has become a disturbingly recurring theme, the Milwaukee Bucks are out of the NBA Playoffs having failed to advance past the first-round. Kyle, Jack, and Riley take one last look at the team's series against the Indiana Pacers to identify the implications of defeat. If the playoffs are a player, coach, and organizational proving ground, what exactly did the Bucks prove? And if next season will be full of lumps along the way, what's the best way to take them and grow the team into a more promising direction?All that plus rapid fire questions and a fountain pen review!

It's all over (yet again) for the Milwaukee Bucks. Their 2024-2025 campaign ends in sour fashion once more with a fitting comedy of errors in a 118-119 OT loss to the Indiana Pacers. Jackson and Morgan get together one last time for our final Instant Reaction podcast of this season and these playoffs to discuss where it all went wrong, the early reverberations from the defeat, and where it could lead the franchise moving forward.

The Milwaukee Bucks now find themselves down 1-3 to the Indiana Pacers after losing Game Four at home, 129-103. But that buries a massive lede: Damian Lillard left the game with a non-contact injury that (as of this moment) looks likely to have been a torn Achilles.Where does that leave the team in this series? Was there anything from Game Four that can be built upon heading forward? And what is Kyle Kuzma doing out there, anyway?Riley, Jack, and Jackson put on their funereal garb in this edition of Instant Reaction podcasts.

When the Milwaukee Bucks needed a boost in the worst way possible, who other than Gary Trent Jr. to answer the call? The veteran guard repaid Doc Rivers' confidence with 37 points in his first stint as a starter in a long while, helping Milwaukee defeat the Indiana Pacers, 117-101 to make the series 1-2. Kyle Carr and Van Fayaz got together post-game to talk GTJ's heroism, Giannis Antetokounmpo chugging along, whatever Kyle Kuzma is doing, and a flash of mettle from a Bucks team that won't go away quietly.

Down 0-2 and with everything to gain (or lose) the Bucks will head back to Milwaukee having dropped tonight's game, 115-123. Jackson and Morgan hop in the podcast studio to break down the return of Damian Lillard to the starting lineup, stuttering role player play, and what the team can do to course correct at home.

The NBA Playoffs are officially underway for the Milwaukee Bucks, and they've started their journey on something of a sour note. Where does the team go having dropped game one in Indianapolis, 98-117? What worked worst, what worked best, and what can Doc Rivers & Co. do to try and course correct this coming Tuesday in Game Two? Brew Hoop's Van Fayaz & Morgan Ross discuss that and more in this instant reaction podcast.

We've made it two for two now as Tom Lewis of Indy Cornrows (our former sister site at SB Nation covering the Indiana Pacers) joins the podcast yet again to preview Bucks-Pacers. In an exercise largely meant to catch Bucks fans up on where the Pacers stand heading into the playoffs, Kyle and Riley ask the tough questions, including:What are the strengths of this Pacers team versus last year's edition?Has Tyrese Haliburton taken a leap? Have any Pacers?Why is the defense so much better than it was a year ago (on paper)?O/U 4.5 techs handed out to Andrew Nembhard and Bobby PortisAnd more!We appreciate Tom's time and thank him for the insight on where his team is at!

The Milwaukee Bucks 2024-2025 regular season is at a close, so it is the perfect time to sit back and reflect on what we just witnessed. Kyle, Van, and Riley gathered to chat about the team's strong finish to the season and how it sets them up for a first-round matchup against the Indiana Pacers. Everything flows through Giannis Antetokounmpo, but can the team find enough "second guys" to prevail? And what direction will Doc Rivers choose when selecting a closing lineup with so many options on the bench?Then, it is on to reflections about what they learned about the Bucks/basketball this season, rapid fire questions, the latest stop on Van's Warped Tour, and first-round predictions!

In a special edition of Deer Diaries (A Milwaukee Bucks Podcast!), we're thrilled to host the second-annual Golden Hoof Awards. With votes cast by the staff of Brew Hoop, we've hashed out everything from bench players waiting to be starters, best wins, worst losses, coaching masterstrokes and mistakes, and more beyond! Hardware is on the line. Who will get a chance to speak at the Golden Hoof's podium? Listen to find out!Music/applause helpfully provided by freesound_community on Pixabay.

What a difference a week makes. In the short span of seven days, the Bucks have sustained a four game losing streak, lost Damian Lillard indefinitely to a deep vein thrombosis diagnosis, and look set to be in a fight for their lives for the East's fifth seed. With instability plaguing the team on the court, Kyle, Adam, and Riley take a step back and assess where things go from here. Is this simply the reality of a team reaching the end of its competitive cycle in the most mundane ways possible?They discuss that, plus rapid fire questions, a review of "Tombstone" and weekly predictions!

In the 200th (!!!) edition of Deer Diaries, we were pleased to be joined by Gale Klappa. Gale is the host of the Bucks+ podcast Courtside with Gale Klappa where he interviews Bucks players, coaches, members of the front office, and figures from the wider basketball world on a weekly basis. Klappa is a longtime fixture in Milwaukee, an avid basketball fan, and also a minority owner of the team. After an intro into his background, we chat about the continuing ripple effects of the trade deadline moves, Gary Trent Jr.'s late resurgence, and Milwaukee's late-game offense. Then, it is on to rapid fire before wrapping with our newest miscellaneous segment, Gallivanting With Gale.

Back from his own version of, "One, two, three, Cancún!" Kyle Carr makes his triumphant return to the podcast stage with Jack on this edition of Deer Diaries. And just in time for the Bucks to have a pedestrian week!They begin by discussing the possible big man rotation headaches Doc Rivers will need to tackle - complicated in the short-term by Jericho Sims' thumb surgery. Then it is on to refereeing challenges Giannis and Dame will need to continue navigating. Finally, they chat about who Milwaukee should prioritize re-signing this summer before obliterating (editor's verbiage) the restive Middleton/Kuzma debates. Things are wrapped up with a NBL Finals capper and predictions as the team begins its West Coast road trip!