Milwaukee Bucks: Whose stock is rising and falling?
John Henson
John Henson is one of the most improved players for not only the Milwaukee Bucks, but around the entire league. At the end of the 2016-17 season, Henson was a regular recipient of DNP-CDs and had fallen out of Milwaukee’s rotation almost entirely.
Now, Henson is the starting center, averaging more than 23 minutes per game, and the most reliable big man on the Bucks’ roster. Not only has Henson’s role increased, but his efficiency has as well. According to NBA.com, compared to last season, Henson has improved his rebounding, assist and effective field goal percentages.
While Henson’s improvement in individual statistics is certainly impressive, the most eye-opening change from last season, is Henson’s net rating.
An individual player’s net rating is the amount of points their team scores relative to their opponent per 100 possessions. Last season, Henson had an individual net rating of -1.8, meaning opponents outscored the Bucks by 1.8 points per 100 possessions while he was on the court. This year, Henson is posting a net rating of +8.5.
To put the difference in perspective, a net-rating of +8.5 would rank third among teams in the NBA this season, only behind the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors, while -1.8 would rank 20th, behind the Charlotte Hornets.
A large part of Henson’s net-rating boost is due to his place in a starting lineup that is destroying opponents since the addition of Eric Bledsoe. Still, in limited minutes of action, the other four starters minus-Henson, have not fared as well without him on the court.
Henson’s improved play has paid dividends in the Bucks’ roster construction as well. Without Henson’s increased production. Greg Monroe and his expiring deal would have been much more critical to the Bucks’ success. If Monroe had held more value to the organization, perhaps they’d never have made the deal for Bledsoe.
An afterthought just a year ago, Henson has become an important piece of the Bucks present and future.