Milwaukee Bucks: 3 players who have regressed this season

Ersan Ilyasova

It would have been hard to imagine Ersan Ilyasova being on this list just only a couple of months ago.

With a standout summer playing for native Turkey in last year’s FIBA World Cup, Ilyasova carried his strong form in the international setting over into the start of the 2019-20 season, especially on the offensive end.

But Ilyasova’s run since the turn of the calendar year has soured his first two months of the Bucks’ fantastic campaign, even as he’s still on track to finish with his most efficient season of his 12-year NBA career by effective field goal percentage (55.2 percent). Since January 1, the Turkish veteran has averaged 4.6 points on .376/.333/.913 splits, 4.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists.

Ilyasova’s steady decline over the new year forced the Bucks’ hand to look for a replacement of sorts in veteran Marvin Williams and the Tar Heel had supplanted Ilyasova in the rotation. And any spot minutes Ilyasova received before this break were ineffective and the 32-year-old offered no scoring spark and was overtaxed defensively with his athletic limitations.

Like Brown, Ilyasova faces an uncertain future in Milwaukee with his salary for next season non-guaranteed, though that guarantee date is in limbo with this current hiatus. And with Wiliams the go-to forward off the bench, it will be hard for Ilyasova to get back into rhythm, should the season resume any time soon.