Chris Livingston faces unexpected twist as Milwaukee Bucks make vital pre-season move

The Milwaukee Bucks' management office has started the process of reducing their regular roster to 15 players with less than a week to go before the team kicks off their 2025–26 season in Milwaukee.

Three months before he is set to sign a one-year guaranteed contract this summer, the Bucks are dismissing the third-year forward for the second time in a few months, according to ESPN's Shams Charania.

The first time they waved him, that is. However, Livingston is unlikely to return this time.

Promising forward Chris Livingston faces abrupt ending to rocky Milwaukee Bucks chapter

The Bucks have until 4 p.m. CT on October 20 to complete their 15-man roster as part of their roster management process. A number crunch leads to the decision to waive 22-year-old forward Chris Livingston. As per Shams Charania: “The Milwaukee Bucks are waiving forward Chris Livingston, sources tell ESPN. Livingston, the last pick in the 2023 NBA draft, signed a guaranteed deal in the offseason with the Bucks, who are in the midst of a crunch for their final 15-man roster…”The Bucks at least had the grace to wait until the day after his 22nd birthday before handing him the switcharoo.

The move puts an end to Livingston and the Bucks' uncomfortable relationship that never really took off.

After selecting Livingston out of Kentucky with the 58th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, the Bucks placed him in the G League and gave him a few garbage time minutes in the NBA. He made 42 appearances, starting one game, and played 10 minutes or more four times in two seasons. His start at center against the Thunder on a day when nearly every Bucks regular was benched for whatever reason was the high point of his 2024–25 campaign.

Livingston scored a personal-best 10 points, six rebounds, and two steals in that game.Livingston, who turned 22 this week, played just 42 games in his two-year tenure with Milwaukee after going last in the 2023 NBA Draft.Even playing just minutes and averaging 1.3 points and 1.3 rebounds, he had some flame in the G League last season, when he averaged a team-leading 18.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.1 steals per contest for the Wisconsin Herd.

A.J. Green secures lucrative long-term future with Milwaukee Bucks after inspiring rise from undrafted rookie

In other news, one of the league's top shooters will remain with the Milwaukee Bucks for a very long time. According to ESPN's Shams Charania, the franchise and guard A.J. Green have reached an agreement on a four-year, $45 million extension before the 2025–2026 season.As per Charania, he said:“Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green has agreed to a four-year, $45 million fully guaranteed contract extension with the franchise, Matt Bollero of ProMondo Sports tells ESPN. Tremendous success story for the Bucks: an Iowa native who went from undrafted in 2022 to making NBA and $45M…”

After this season, he was supposed to become a free agent, but he is now signed until the 2029–2030 season. Green, one of the best shooters in the game, went undrafted in 2022 but has since become a major success story for Milwaukee. He will continue to be a vital rotational staple for Milwaukee for some time to come.Last season, he shot 42.7% from outside the arc on five attempts per game, averaging 7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. Additionally, he had a 44.9% three-point shooting percentage.Also read: Alex Antetokounmpo to Milwaukee Bucks? History is made as third Antetokounmpo brother joins Giannis and Thanasis on same NBA team