Show summary Hide summary
The Milwaukee Bucks’ preseason opener offered an early glimpse of a frontcourt pairing that could change how the team attacks the glass. When **Jericho Sims** and **Kel’el Ware** shared the floor against Minnesota, their physicality and timing produced moments that address a glaring weakness from last season.
Could two bigs fix Milwaukee’s offensive rebounding woes?
Milwaukee finished last in the NBA in offensive rebounding last season, averaging just 8.9 offensive boards per game. That deficit left the Bucks short on second-chance points and pressure on opposing defenses.
Wisconsin football sees players rise and fall after convincing win over USC
Tyler Herro’s late-game inconsistency keeps him from becoming a clear No. 1
Against the Timberwolves, Sims and Ware provided a compact example of how that might change. Early in the game, a Gary Trent Jr. miss led to Sims leaping over a cluster of defenders to secure the rebound. On a subsequent Trent miss it was Ware who cleaned up the glass. Shortly after, Sims grabbed a rebound off an AJ Green miss and fed Ware, who knocked down a 3-pointer.
Those plays highlighted two traits the Bucks lacked: consistent boxing out and quick, athletic pursuit of loose balls. If the pairing produces similar results over more minutes, it could translate into more second-chance opportunities and sustained possession advantages.
What this means for Myles Turner and Milwaukee’s rotation
Logistically, running Sims and Ware together means one veteran center will sit. That reality puts a spotlight on **Myles Turner** and his place in the rotation. Turner averaged a career-low 5.3 rebounds per game last season, a stat the club will weigh against the fresh rebounding energy shown by the younger duo.
There is also a stylistic precedent for this look. Taylor Jenkins has previously deployed a pairing similar to Ware and Sims while in Memphis — a mobile forward alongside a sturdier interior presence. In that context, Ware resembles the mobile, versatile big while Sims fills the role of an immovable rim protector and rebounder.
If the Ware–Sims combination consistently outperforms expectations, Turner’s minutes could shrink and the team might consider moving him before the trade deadline. That outcome is not certain, but it becomes more plausible if preseason minutes confirm the pairing’s value.
For now, the prudent approach is clear: continue testing the Sims–Ware tandem through the rest of the preseason and monitor whether their contributions on the glass hold up in different lineups and game situations.
