Milwaukee Bucks: Takeaways from 2018 NBA Summer League
By Adam McGee
Ready to step up
Sterling Brown’s Summer League play was by no means perfect, but it included a number of incredibly positive moments and a sense that his development is continuing to trend in the right direction.
Not only does it seem like Brown is making progress, though, but it’s very easy to imagine him translating that into a more significant role in the rotation in the coming season too.
As a rookie, the 23-year-old’s defense paved the way to minutes, yet there are a variety of skills he can add to that to become an even more influential player under the new coaching staff.
Brown has the 3-and-D wing profile of so many of the players who benefited most from Budenholzer and his assistants during his time in Atlanta, and perhaps the first signs of looking to push the former SMU Mustang in that regard were there for all to see in Summer League.
The ball was frequently put in Brown’s hands, tasking him with initiating and creating for both himself and others. It didn’t necessarily result in improved efficiency, but it gave Brown a chance to demonstrate and work on a wider range of responsibilities.
The experience of game reps with those pressures should help Brown when he next takes a place in an NBA setting, where he’ll naturally be required to do much less. With averages of 16.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 2.2 assists to show from Vegas, it’s safe to say Brown’s future with the Bucks remains bright.