Bucks timeline: What went wrong to lead Milwaukee to three straight first-round exits from NBA Playoffs

Less than four years after winning an NBA title, the Bucks again find themselves in familiar territory.

With a 4-1 series loss to the Pacers — punctuated by a shocking defeat where they gave up a seven-point lead with less than a minute left in overtime — Milwaukee has been eliminated from the first round of the NBA Playoffs for a third consecutive year. And while the previous two first-round exits came with some semblance of optimism moving forward, there are no more silver linings and the Bucks are left with more questions than answers.

With soon-to-be 35-year-old Damian Lillard facing a lengthy road to recovery from a torn Achilles tendon, all eyes will be on the future of two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. As constructed, this Milwaukee team is not capable of winning at a large scale, and a major trade may be the only way to get this team back to relevance.

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Before looking ahead, take a moment to look back to see how the Bucks got to this point. Here's a timeline of the major events that have contributed to the Bucks' three consecutive first-round exits.

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Bucks timeline: What led to Milwaukee's three straight first-round exits

April 16, 2023: In the first quarter of Game 1 of the 2023 NBA Playoffs against the 8-seed Heat, Antetokunmpo goes down with a lower-back injury. He is limited to 11 minutes in the game and Milwaukee loses, 130-117.

Giannis Antetokounmpo takes a hard fall as Kevin Love attempts to draw a charge. pic.twitter.com/bFBRdaEsz8

The injury ultimately limits Antetokounmpo to 91 minutes over three games in the series. Still, he averages 23.3 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 5.3 assists when available.

April 26, 2023: Thanks to 43 points from Jimmy Butler, the Heat eliminate the Bucks in five games. Milwaukee becomes the sixth No. 1 seed to lose in the first round in NBA history.

May 4, 2023: Days after the dust settles from their first-round exit, Milwaukee fires head coach Mike Budenholzer.

Bucks GM Jon Horst and president Peter Feigin issued a joint statement, saying "Bud helped lead our team for five incredible seasons, to the Bucks' first title in 50 years, and into an era of sustained success. We are grateful for the culture of winning and leadership that Bud helped create in Milwaukee.

May 27, 2023: Milwaukee hires former Raptors assistant Adrian Griffin to be the franchise's next head coach.

While Griffin was a first-time head coach, he came with a unique breadth of experience as a former player and a stand-in coach during his time in Toronto.

Sept. 27, 2023: Five months after getting eliminated in the first round, the Bucks reach a deal to acquire Lillard in a three-team blockbuster trade involving the Trail Blazers and Suns.

As part of the trade, Milwaukee sends Jrue Holiday to Portland and Grayson Allen to Phoenix. In total, the deal involved eight players and three future picks.

MORE: Everything to know about Damian Lillard's injury and recovery 

Jan. 23, 2024: Milwaukee fires Griffin 43 games into his first season at the helm. While the team has a 30-13 record at the time of Griffin's firing, the decision was believed to be a response to turmoil within the locker room.

"This was a difficult decision to make during the season. We are working immediately toward hiring our next head coach. We thank Coach Griffin for his hard work and contributions to the team," Horst said in a release. 

Jan. 24, 2024: Bucks reportedly reach an agreement to hire Doc Rivers as Griffin's replacement.

As evidenced by the timing, Milwaukee made the decision in a pinch. Adrian Wojnarowski said that the franchise valued Rivers' pedigree as a championship coach and familiarity with contending teams in the Eastern Conference.

April 9, 2024: Late in the third quarter of a primetime matchup with the Celtics, Antetokounmpo goes down with a non-contact calf injury.

Antetokounmpo's left soleus strain keeps him sidelined for the remainder of the regular season and the 2024 NBA Playoffs in doubt.

April 26, 2024: With the 3-seed Bucks and 6-seed Pacers tied at one game apiece, Lillard goes down with an injury near the end of the first half of Game 3.

He returns to finish the game but is clearly hobbled. The injury is ruled a left Achilles strain and holds Lillard out of Games 4 and 5.

MORE: Could Damian Lillard spell end of Giannis era for Bucks?

May 2, 2024: Lillard returns to the lineup but it isn't enough as Milwaukee cannot overcome being without Antetokounmpo for the series. The Pacers earn a 120-98 win in Game 6 to eliminate the Bucks from the NBA Playoffs.

July 17, 2024: It is revealed that Khris Middleton has undergone surgery on both ankles, putting his availability for the beginning of the 2024-25 season in jeopardy.

Middleton missed the first 21 games of the regular season and was limited when available.

Nov. 10, 2024: The Bucks suffer a six-point loss to the Celtics to fall to 2-8 on the 2024-25 season.

Milwaukee searches for answers after an abysmal beginning of the new campaign.

Dec. 17, 2024: After turning the tide to win 12 of its next 15 games, Milwaukee advances to the second-ever NBA Cup title game.

The Bucks dominate their way to a 97-81 win over the Thunder to capture the title. Giannis Antetokounmpo is named MVP.

Feb. 5, 2025: The Bucks reach a deal to send Middleton and rookie AJ Johnson to Washington in a deal centered around forward Kyle Kuzma.

The deal puts an end to Middleton's tenure in Milwaukee, which was highlighted by multiple All-Star selections and the 2021 title.

March 25, 2025: The Bucks announce that Lillard had been diagnosed with a blood clot in his left calf.

Horst says, "Doctors have indicated that [Lillard's] situation is very unlikely to occur again. We are thankful that this was identified and medicated quickly, which helps with the recovery," in a prepared statement.

Lillard is ruled out "indefinitely" but a return to the playoffs is not ruled out.

April 17, 2025: Lillard is cleared to return to the floor but ruled out for 5-seed Milwaukee's Game 1 meeting with 4-seed Indiana.

April 27, 2025: In his third game back from the blood clot, Lillard goes down with a non-contact left leg injury.

The injury is later revealed to be a torn Achilles tendon, which could potentially hold Lillard out through the 2025-26 NBA season.

April 29, 2025: The Pacers eliminate the Bucks from the first round of the NBA Playoffs, marking the franchise's third consecutive first-round loss.

Since taking a 3-2 series lead over the Celtics in the 2022 Eastern Conference Semifinals, the Bucks have posted a 4-12 record in postseason games, with Antetokounmpo suiting up for just one Bucks playoff win. He and Lillard started and finished two playoff games together.