Milwaukee Bucks: 3 players already on Mike Budenholzer’s good side

Eight games into the 2020-21 season, several players are standing out early in Mike Budenholzer’s rotation for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Milwaukee Bucks have finally started to find some rhythm seven games into the season with a 5-3 record.

There have certainly been some growing pains, but that was widely expected, with nearly half of the roster being new players. Head coach Mike Budenholzer has been more flexible with his rotations early on, trying to piece together the perfect puzzle for the new-look Bucks.

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This has led to some compelling combinations that have shown the versatility that this Milwaukee roster is capable of displaying. Whether it be their play in practice, games, or just wanting to get some fresh faces in the lineup, Budenholzer has given more opportunities to players he sees fitting.

While it is still a small sample size, here are three players that have seemingly gotten on Mike Budenholzer’s good side this season.

3 players already on Mike Budenholzer’s good side – Thanasis Antetokounmpo

Budenholzer has not been shy about mixing up the rotation in the early going this season, and one player that has benefitted from that is Thanasis Antetokounmpo. The 28-year-old is averaging 11.1 minutes per game on the season and seeing meaningful minutes as one of the first players to hear their name called off the bench.

Thanasis has logged double-digit minutes five times in seven games this season, which surpasses his total of four throughout the entirety of his 2019-20 campaign. Although Antetokounmpo might not be stuffing the stat sheet with his more prominent role in the rotation, he provides a welcoming spark in the second unit. The energy he brings off the bench is immeasurable, and Budenholzer has made sure to feature him more because of it.

Whether the minutes continue to steadily trend for the elder Antetokounmpo or not, he is always an option in Budenholzer’s back pocket when the team needs some life. He will always leave everything out on the court, and that is commendable on its own.