Milwaukee Bucks: 3 ways Grayson Allen can earn starting job in preseason

The Milwaukee Bucks are scheduled to play their first preseason game on the 2021-22 schedule early next week, and everyone is anxious to see the champs back in action.

The Bucks likely will be cautious with their best players, considering Giannis Antetokounmpo is still being bothered by his knee injury from the postseason and there is no reason to push him to get out on the floor. Meanwhile, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday could use some extra rest after participating in the Tokyo Olympics just days after winning the NBA title. Tie that in with the fact that this offseason is already shortened as the league tries to return to their 82-game slate.

While it would be nice to have everyone up to speed, this will allow them to see what they have elsewhere as they gear up for a title defense. One player that everyone is seemingly excited to see in action is Grayson Allen. The Bucks traded for the guard this past offseason, and with starting guard Donte DiVincenzo seemingly set to miss some time to begin the year, Allen seems like the likely opening day starter. However, nothing is set in stone yet, and perhaps a strong showing in the preseason could bolster his case.

Beginning against his former team in the Grizzlies on Tuesday night, here are three ways Allen can cement his status as Milwaukee’s starting two-guard.

Grayson Allen can make his starting case for the Milwaukee Bucks with intensity

P.J. Tucker was a catalyst for the Bucks last season when it came to intensity. After coming aboard in a trade, the forward’s determination proved to be a massive factor in the team’s title run, as the battle-tested veteran left everything he had on the court nightly. Tucker’s departure this offseason leaves the team without that presence, and they are hoping Allen could fill it to some degree.

Allen does not have the same reputation as Tucker in this league, nor does he possess the similar “dog mentality” that made Tucker so beloved in Milwaukee, but he is still an intense player. While many think of Allen as a “dirty player” and a mischief-maker out on the court, the guard can help this team bring intensity in other ways. Diving on loose balls, taking charges, skying for offensive rebounds, and just being a vocal presence are just a few things that Allen’s role could entail. If the new Buck can display any of that during the preseason, it would undeniably help his case to start.

Essentially, Allen is a player that fans love when he is a part of their team but despise when he is donning another jersey. Many Wisconsin fans still hold a grudge against Allen for his antics when he was playing at Duke, but if he gives it his all each and every night for the Bucks, it should make those same fans more willing to root for him. Who knows, perhaps Allen could be a fan-favorite in the making if all goes according to plan.