Doc Rivers Announces Reason For Kyle Kuzma Benching After Milwaukee Bucks Lose To Celtics

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On Monday night, the Milwaukee Bucks played the Boston Celtics (at home) in Wisconsin.

Despite the return of Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Bucks got blown out, losing by a score of 108-81.

Antetokounmpo finished his first game back with 19 points, 11 rebounds, two assists and one block while shooting 7/18 from the field 0/2 from three-point range in 25 minutes of playing time.

Doc Rivers Announces Reason For Kyle Kuzma Benching

One notable fact from the game was that Kyle Kuzma did not make an appearance.

He appeared to be a healthy scratch.

Keith Smith of Spotrac wrote: “Kuzma did indeed end up a DNP-CD. As best as I can tell from a quick look through his game logs, this is the first DNP-CD in Kuzma’s nine-year career.”

After the game, Eric Nehm of The Athletic reported on what head coach Doc Rivers said about the decision.

Nehm wrote: “Bucks coach Doc Rivers said Kyle Kuzma not playing tonight was a coach’s decision.”

Kuzma was traded to the Bucks (via the Washington Wizards) during the middle of the 2024-25 season.

In his first full year with Milwaukee, the 2020 NBA Champion has averages of 12.9 points, 4.8 rebounds and 2.6 assists per contest while shooting 48.3% from the field and 34.2% from three-point range in 56 games.

Kuzma was the 27th pick in the 2017 NBA Draft out of Utah.

Before the Bucks and Wizards, the 30-year-old spent the first four years of his career playing for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Ti Windisch of Gyro Step wrote: “Kuzma going from starter to DNP-CD (for the first time in his career!) makes no sense but that’s par for the course this season. Conspiracy Ti wonders if it’s not a coincidence that Kuzma was the most vocal about Myles Turner not having enough of a role before Doc benched him.”

The Bucks are currently the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 26-34 record in 60 games.

They are also in the middle of a three-game losing streak (and have gone 5-5 over their last ten games).

Following the Celtics, the Bucks will play their next game on Wednesday night when they remain at home to host Jalen Johnson and the Atlanta Hawks in Wisconsin.