Milwaukee Bucks: Revisiting Ersan Ilyasova’s 2019-20 season so far

Milwaukee Bucks: Revisiting Ersan Ilyasova’s 2019-20 season so far – Where Ersan left off

As is the case for many Bucks players throughout this season, Ilyasova was right there riding the vast highs the Bucks were experiencing, even going so far as tallying some of the best marks of his career along the way.

While Ilyasova was averaging the fewest minutes (16) since his rookie season back in 2006-07 as well as averaging just 6.8 points per game, the Turkish international was incredibly efficient in the scoring chances that did come his way throughout the year. That is certainly backed up by the career-highs Ilyasova compiled in both effective field goal percentage (55.2) and true shooting percentage (59.1).

The hot start that Ilyasova was able to enjoy and convey from his time playing for Turkey from the 2019 FIBA World Cup last year gave the Bucks an instant boost, especially during any time he stepped in for Greek superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Eventually, though, the spark that Ilyasova provided for the Bucks had started to cool, especially after the turn of the calendar year. Since January 1 all the way to when the Bucks played their last game before the suspension, Ilyasova had averaged 4.6 points per game on .376/.333/.913 shooting splits, 4.2 rebounds and 0.6 assists while having a +0.1 net rating across 351 minutes, per NBA.com/stats.

While it wasn’t precipitous by any measure, it’s unclear how or whether Ilyasova’s individual slide influenced the Bucks’ buyout acquisition of veteran forward Marvin Williams, who had essentially supplanted Ilyasova as the Budenholzer’s go-to option behind Antetokounmpo.

And it’s that addition that clouds how Ilyasova may be used moving forward, if at all.