Milwaukee Bucks: DeAndre Liggins proving to be incredible value

DeAndre Liggins‘ relentless effort has made him an important part of the Milwaukee Bucks’ rotation and a great value pickup overall.

While people across America scramble around looking for Black Friday bargains, the Milwaukee Bucks are lucky enough to have secured their own value deal early.

When it was announced that Gerald Green had been waived on the eve of the season, following every other training camp invitee having previously been cut by the Bucks, it certainly raised a few eyebrows.

As it turned out, though, the Bucks had a plan of their own in place. After a summer spent hopping around the NBA, DeAndre Liggins had just been waived by the Miami Heat when the Bucks offered him a non-guaranteed, veteran minimum contract that came late enough for it to seem a safe bet he’d at least make it into the season in Milwaukee.

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Liggins had gone through his fair share of challenges throughout his career, as starring turns in what was then the D-League often failed to prove enough for him to cement his place in the NBA in the longer term. Away from the court, Liggins’ life had been even more tumultuous as he reached a plea deal following a range of domestic violence charges from 2013.

Ultimately, the challenge for Liggins had gone from being about if his ability was suited to the NBA, to whether his attitude and character were the right fit for a locker room.

Having been out of the NBA since the 2013-14 season, Liggins got a massive opportunity to prove himself in the NBA again, when he was signed by the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. Although he was ultimately waived, Liggins impressed in 61 games for the Cavaliers and ensured he was back on the radar of NBA front offices.

He found a particularly notable fan in LeBron James, who described the former Kentucky Wildcat by saying:

"“He picks up 96 feet — and the court is only 94. That’s what he does.”"

Through the early stages of his time with the Bucks, Liggins is not just living up to that billing from James, but arguably surpassing it too.

Liggins was inactive for Milwaukee’s first two games of the season, but has only missed a single game since. The 29-year-old’s energy was quickly apparent, and he’s made himself a constant fixture of the rotation ever since as a defensive pest that opposing teams just can’t shake loose.

While hustle and effort can often be empty platitudes used to describe players who are more limited, in Liggins’ case they are very real descriptions of what he brings to the table.

In fact, you can’t go to the Hustle Leaders page of the NBA Stats website without seeing Liggins’ name everywhere. Liggins ranks among the top-10 leaders in deflections per 36 (3.8), loose balls recovered per 36 (1.7), and charges drawn per 36 (0.99).

In terms of charges, Liggins’ production even translates to the per game stats, in spite of lesser minutes, as he’s tied for fourth in the NBA with 0.43 charges per game.

Liggins’ play with the Bucks is obvious in more traditional ways too. Although, he’s far from an elite offensive player, Liggins is holding his own as a three-point shooter by knocking down 39.1 percent from deep.

Liggins’ steals also place him in elite company around the NBA, as his 2.1 steals per 36 minutes places him ninth in the league among players who have played 200 minutes or more.

As the only Buck with a usage rate of less than 10 percent, Liggins is fitting in seamlessly alongside his teammates, and playing within his own means.

In a recent interview with Matt Velazquez of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Liggins explained how he’s identified his own niche in the NBA and is now working toward maximizing his contributions as a result.

"“Everybody can score in this league, everybody don’t want to play defense. That’s what I get paid for. I’m not looked at as a scorer. I can shoot the ball — my shot has improved — but my job first is to bring energy, do all the intangibles, take charges, get the 50/50 balls and that’s what I’m going to continue to hang my hat on.”"

The Bucks have certainly been grateful for the effort that Liggins has provided their often creaking defense, and to go a step further, Liggins has acted as something of a spark-plug for his teammates on the occasions when the Bucks have managed to lock in defensively this season.

Having played alongside Liggins in college, Eric Bledsoe told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

"“DeAndre was in a position where he never gave up on what he wanted to accomplish. Now he’s here and he’s going to stick here and be here for a while. You can’t do nothing but, like I said, love the guy.”"

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If Liggins can keep doing what he’s been doing so far, he’s only going to continue to feel the love from his Bucks teammates and Milwaukee’s fans too.