11 things we'd love to see during the Milwaukee Bucks' 2022-23 regular season

The Milwaukee Bucks regular season begins Thursday night in Philadelphia, and Milwaukee again ranks among the favorites to win the NBA championship. It's a roster chock full of familiar names, although with as much success as the Bucks have had lately, it's hard to get too fired up about the regular season, right?

So let's spice it up with some things we'd love to see this regular season, some suggestions more serious than others. What's on your list?

Giannis Antetokounmpo catches Michael Redd

Giannis Antetokounmpo comes into the year as the Bucks all-time leading scorer, and he's threatening to reach the top of the list in rebounding, assists and steals (he already owns the block category, as well). But there is one area he could still conquer: single-game point totals.

Michael Redd, who scored 57 points against the Utah Jazz, on Nov. 11, 2006, currently holds the Bucks single-game scoring record. Giannis has had his moments in the points column, such as a 52-point effort against Philadelphia in March 2019 and his unforgettable 50-point showing in Game 6 of the 2021 NBA Finals. But Giannis only has one game in Milwaukee's all-time top 10 of single-game scoring. Among the most notable performances, Bucks good-luck charm Brandon Jennings famously scored 55 on Nov. 14, 2009, against the Golden State Warriors, and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar has four 53-point performances and one 55-pointer.

Whattya say, Giannis? Do we hear 60?

Truthfully, he'd probably have to reach that round number to even approach the gravitas of his Finals-clinching 50, but we'd certainly remember his big night if it came to pass. Of course, Giannis also would need to get the minutes to rack up 60 points, and … well, at least early in the season, that's a bit of a pipe dream.

Khris Middleton becomes a top-three all-time franchise scorer (and gets healthy first)

While on the subject of historical achievement, Khris Middleton is well within striking distance of becoming the franchise's No. 3 all-time scorer, behind only Antetokounmpo and Abdul-Jabbar. Middleton needs 1,039 points to catch Glenn Robinson (12,010), and in a normal season, Middleton would blow that mark away − he's scored at least 1,297 points in each of the past five single seasons. But, of course, that hinges on decent health. Middleton will get a late start to the year thanks to wrist surgery, and though he should still have the cushion to bypass Big Dog, it's not necessarily a certainty.

Middleton has been the Robin to Giannis' Batman during the Bucks resurgence over the past half-decade, and it feels right to see him earn such a lofty perch. He'll need more seasons to catch No. 2 Kareem, who held the Bucks franchise scoring mark until last season, but Middleton is cementing himself as one of the Bucks' all-time greats.

A coaches' night to honor Del Harris, George Karl and Larry Costello

There wasn't perhaps as much fanfare as you'd might expect when a whopping three former Bucks head coaches − Larry Costello, Del Harris and George Karl − were inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in the same year.

Costello coached the team from the franchise's inception through part of the 1976-77 season, leading the Bucks to the 1971 championship and an appearance in the 1974 Finals. Harris was coach from 1987-91, reaching the playoffs in each of his four full seasons, and Karl led the team from 1999-2003, making the playoffs four of five seasons and leading Milwaukee to the 2001 Eastern Conference Finals.

All three had success in places aside from Milwaukee, and both Costello and Harris were inducted as "contributors" instead of just as a coach. But, coupled with Don Nelson, it now means the Bucks had a Hall of Fame head coach for the franchise's first 24 years of existence (and five more once Karl came along).

Karl, specifically, would make a great Milwaukee guest when the Bucks trot out the old purple jerseys for the "Classic Throwback" look this year.

Marques Johnson gets the Hall call

Speaking of the Hall of Fame, beloved former Bucks star Marques Johnson, who remains a part of the team's television broadcasts, has been a finalist for Hall of Fame induction four straight years. Maybe the fifth time is the charm?

Johnson, a member of the College Basketball Hall of Fame, was taken No. 3 by the Bucks in the 1977 NBA draft and made three all-NBA teams during his tenure with the Bucks from 1977-84, with two top-10 finishes in the MVP voting. He made five all-star teams in his career and, lest we forget, his poster was on Michael Jordan's wall, for crying out loud. Get this man in the Hall of Fame!

More:The Wisconsin sports references found inside Michael Jordan documentary, 'The Last Dance'

Bobby Portis in the 3-point competition

Speaking of beloved players, few have captured the heart of Milwaukee better than Bobby Portis. How cool would it be to see Portis get some national love?

Portis should get a ticket to Salt Lake City on Feb. 17-19 for all-star weekend. Get this man in the 3-point competition! He's a 42% shooter from beyond the arc in two years with the Bucks. He was at 39.3% last year, which puts him in the top-20 overall in the NBA for players with as many attempts as he had and second among guys who play center behind Karl Anthony-Towns … who did make the 3-point challenge last year and won the whole thing. Big guys shooting the rock is what people want to see. Let Bobby shoot.

Can we just get the whole all-star game in Milwaukee?

The Bucks haven't hosted an NBA all-star game since 1977 at the Milwaukee Arena, and when Fiserv Forum opened in 2018, it certainly stood to reason that Milwaukee would get asked to host an all-star game sooner or later. But the city lost out to Salt Lake City in its bid for the 2023 game, and the 2024 game is already scheduled for Indianapolis (relocated from 2021), so 2025 is the next one on the table. Could that be the one that winds up local? Milwaukee hasn't hosted a major pro-sports all-star game since the MLB game in 2002 at Miller Park.

Oh, and Jrue Holiday should be an all-star

There was at least some surprise last year when it was Khris Middleton headed to the all-star game as a second Bucks representative and not Jrue Holiday, whose value to the Bucks has been immeasurable over the past two seasons. Holiday, 32, has only made one all-star team in his career, which seems incredible. Surely he can join Giannis (and Bobby) on the trip to Utah this year.

Ray Allen back in the house for some promotional goodness

The Bucks promotional schedule has some cool highlights this year, including a Giannis "dad joke" bobblehead, several things that will keep you warm (mittens! a hat! a blanket!) and a Ray Allen legends bobblehead April 7 against the Grizzlies. What a perfect opportunity to get Allen back in town … maybe in concert with Karl and the purple jerseys, as mentioned above?

All four Antetokounmpos on the floor

OK, this one will require some crazy things to happen, but we'd love to see it: all four Antetokounmpos on the same floor.

We've already seen Giannis and Thanasis take on a Kostas team, and Kostas Antetokounmpo is on a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls this year. The teams play twice after the trade deadline (Feb. 16 in Chicago and April 5 at home), which means the annual chaotic roster machinations will already be under way. The Bucks have added under-the-radar guys late in the year before (Rayjon Tucker and Luca Vildoza come to mind); could they maybe be persuaded to add Alex, the youngest Antetokounmpo brother who was signed by the Wisconsin Herd (the Bucks G-league affiliate) in July?

Alex previously joined his Bucks' brothers at the NBA all-star skills challenge last year. How about in a regular-season game? OK, it's a longshot, but it would be an endearing grace note to the season.

Bob Uecker on the call for a Giannis dunk

We're off the rails, but since we are, you know what would be amazing? Merging Milwaukee's two biggest franchises. Heck, Giannis is already a part-owner of the Brewers, so this should work great.

Milwaukee plays in Phoenix on March 14, not far from where the Brewers will be playing spring training games, so who says no to Bob Uecker stopping over on the Bucks broadcast? Wouldn't you love to hear Uecker call a Giannis Antetonounmpo dunk? How about that one, folks?

A win in Boston on Christmas

The Bucks are on the road for the holidays this year, traveling to the TD Garden, where the 2021 season ended in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals. The Boston Celtics will again be one of the top teams in a loaded Eastern Conference this year, so a win over Boston has significant value on any day, not to mention the league's showcase regular-season date.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Giannis, Khris Middleton, Jrue Holiday, Milwaukee Bucks to tip off