This story is part of ESPN The Magazine's Oct. 31 NBA Preview Issue. Subscribe today!
Milwaukee Bucks
Overall: 72
Title track: T90
Ownership: 61
Coaching: 59
Players: 67
Fan relations: 72
Affordability: 38
Stadium experience: 113
Bang for the buck: 81
Change from last year: -7
Last year, it all seemed to be going well for the Bucks after an impressive, 55-spot jump in these standings. But just when we thought it was headed for the top half, the team slipped back into old habits and dropped seven spots from last year. Under head coach Jason Kidd, the team's future remains cloudy, but the leadership on the team will have to step up if the Bucks want to compete against the best NBA franchises.
What's good
Although the Bucks remain in a rebuilding phase, fans can enjoy attending games for a low price and little hassle. With among the most affordable tickets in the game (ranging from $9 to $178) and ranking 38th in affordability, the BMO Harris Bradley Center should draw big enough crowds to create hype and help the Bucks to more wins this season. Of course, with ownership set to open a new arena in the next few years (which is sorely needed -- see that 113th-ranked stadium experience), whether ticket prices stay affordable remains to be seen. In the meantime, PR Director Mark Rosenberg says improvements are coming to the Bradley Center: "In the past year we've opened three new club spaces and partnered with multiple local restaurants to expand our concessions offerings. We've also upgraded our public in-arena wifi network, added in-seat ordering capability through our Bucks mobile app for merchandise, and invested heavily in customer service training programs for our frontline staff."
What's bad
When the Bucks didn't make the playoffs last season, it didn't come as a shock to most fans (the Bucks got bounced in six in the first round in 2014-15). But there were signs of promise throughout the regular season: back-to-back wins over the Pacers and Timberwolves, not to mention victories over the Warriors and Cavaliers. Call us crazy, but it almost seems like this team has serious potential to break free from a 90th-place title track ranking this year. A few more wins would go a long way to helping that 83rd-place bang for the buck finish too.
What's new
Last year, fans of Milwaukee embraced the young Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, Jabari Parker and Greg Monroe increased optimism in the roster and gave fans hope for playoff contention and a long-lasting season. But after a 33-49 season and the team's 12th-place finish in the Eastern Conference, fans are growing less certain about the Bucks' players and coaches. The roster lands at 67th overall (down 37 spots), so Kidd (down 40 spots to 59th) still has his sights set on rebuilding. In 2016-17, the Bucks hope new signee Matthew Dellavedova and top draft pick Thon Maker will bring more depth and talent to the group. "We're very excited about the direction of our team on the court," says Rosenberg. "We have a future Hall-of-Famer as a coach in Jason Kidd and a nucleus of young talent in Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jabari Parker and Khris Middleton that is as promising as any group in the league."
Next: Minnesota Timberwolves | Full rankings