Milwaukee Bucks: 3 players who defied expectations in 2020-21 season

Looking back to last offseason, the Milwaukee Bucks certainly went through quite the ride between now and then.

The front office was scrambling to bring in the requisite pieces as Giannis Antetokounmpo was pondering his future with the franchise. This led to what was initially viewed as some questionable signings at the time, some that many believed were quite underwhelming given the team’s title hopes and desire to go all-in to compete at the highest level.

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While the team brought aboard several household names that could be rotational players, there were not many additions that many believed to be needle moving. However, general manager Jon Horst is an Executive of the Year winner for a reason, as the team’s free agent signings turned out to be a massive reason why they won their first title in five decades.

With that being said, here are three players that signed with the Bucks last offseason and would soon defy expectations.

Bryn Forbes defied expectations with the Milwaukee Bucks this season

When the Bucks inked Bryn Forbes to a two-year deal worth $4.8 million last offseason, many believed they had merely signed a solid shooter.

Forbes has made a living in this league thanks to his prolific outside shooting, which would make him a valuable piece for this team. He would be used most frequently in the rotation with lineups consisting of Giannis Antetokounmpo, which proved to be the perfect match. However, not only did he space the floor to perfection by shooting a career-best 45.2 percent from deep, good enough for the fourth-best mark in the league during the regular season, but he impacted a playoff series for the Bucks entirely.

In Milwaukee’s first round series with the Miami Heat, Forbes proved to be the team’s unsung hero due to his red-hot shooting. The guard averaged 15 points across four games while shooting a fantastic 52.5 percent from the floor and a sensational 48.5 percent from deep to give the Bucks a lifeline offensively. Who would have predicted that Forbes would outscore Jimmy Butler, Miami’s regular season leading scorer, 60 to 58 in this four-game series?

Although his role faded as the postseason went on, no one can take away just how great Forbes was in that opening round. Whether or not he leaves the Bucks in free agency, that performance will be remembered forever as a tone-setter for the postseason that would result in the team’s first title in 50 seasons.