Milwaukee Bucks: Ranking the top 5 small forwards of the last 10 seasons
Top 5 Milwaukee Bucks small forwards of the last 10 seasons – No. 2: Tony Snell
I can’t say I expected Tony Snell to be the second-best small forward of the last 10 seasons, but this is the world we’re living in. After being acquired for Michael Carter-Williams from the Chicago Bulls (who made an appearance on the point guard version of these rankings), Snell went on to play for three seasons with the Bucks, totaling 229 games and 151 starts.
Snell’s counting stats don’t jump off the page with 7.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game in around 25 minutes a night. But Snell, like Dunleavy, was a 3-point marksman as he shot 40.3 percent on 3.6 attempts per game. Two of his three seasons were over 40 percent from 3-point range, and the other was 39.7.
He never quite lived up to the four-year, $44 million contract that he signed after his first season with the Bucks, but he provided great shooting for multiple years and was a solid defender that just couldn’t do much more. He did hit a pretty neat game-winning buzzer-beater against the Raptors this year and hasn’t missed a free throw over the last two seasons!
Top 5 Milwaukee Bucks small forwards of the last 10 seasons – No. 1: Khris Middleton
There really shouldn’t be much surprise with this as Khris Middleton is far and away the best option the Bucks have had at small forwards for years. When the initial trade with the Detroit Pistons occurred back in 2013, I don’t think anyone could have predicted what we’ve seen from Middleton in his eight seasons with the Bucks so far.
In 558 games with the Bucks (so far), Middleton has started 510 and played over 31 minutes per game. In his Bucks tenure to this point, Middleton has averaged 17.3 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Obviously, Middleton has really turned into a true star the last few seasons after being a second-round pick in 2012, but he’s been remarkably consistent every year, and it culminated with this championship run.
Middleton has been worth 44.4 win shares since 2011-12, per Stathead. That’s over 35 more win shares than the next highest small forward (Snell at nine). No one in recent Bucks memory can come close to Middleton at the small forward position, and he’s one of the best all-time in Bucks history at the three. Middleton is a quiet worker and has become the perfect number two for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Bucks fans will fiercely defend Middleton to anyone who unfairly criticizes him as we (to this day) try to prove to everyone that Middleton is a star. It’s been an unbelievable rise to stardom for Middleton, and he’s truly one of the greatest Bucks of all time.
Next. Milwaukee Bucks: Revisiting Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 2020-21 goals. dark
Although the overall talent may not be there for the small forward group, the number one is hard to beat.