As the Milwaukee Bucks walked off the court following a 4-1 defeat to the Miami Heat in the 2020 NBA Playoffs, Pat Connaughton’s future with the franchise was uncertain.
The impending free agent had a downright awful series against the Heat across those five games. Connaughton scored just nine points while shooting 4-of-14 from the field, including 1-of-7 from behind the arc, failing to make hardly any impact on the offensive end. His defense was not much better, as fans constantly asked themselves why Connaughton was getting minutes over starter Wesley Matthews. After such an abysmal string of games, fans were fine with the Bucks letting Connaughton walk in free agency, with some even willing to help him pack his bags.
Yet, the Bucks instead opted to re-sign the guard to a two-year deal worth $8.3 million. Many were displeased with the move, and that distaste increased tenfold when the Bucks reworked the contract to be a three-year deal worth $16 million. At the time, this was a player that just had an incredibly terrible playoff series, and Milwaukee’s front office seemed out of their minds to give him such a lucrative deal. Connaughton would have to prove his worth throughout the 2020-21 season, and as everyone knows, he did just that.
Pat Connaughton earned back the trust of Milwaukee Bucks fans after a sensational championship-winning season
After most Bucks fans wanted him gone following the collapse against the Heat, Connaughton came into the 2020-21 season with a fire lit beneath him. The guard put together a career year for the Bucks, scoring, shooting, and playing more than he ever had before. Due to his improved play in the regular season, Connaughton turned into a reliable piece in the second unit for Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer, which would be put to the test in the postseason.
Despite a great regular season, Bucks fans remembered how poorly Connaughton played in the previous postseason, and many were skeptical. However, the veteran shut down those concerns quickly as he consistently gave the team a solid dose of shooting, defense, and rebounding off the bench throughout the entire postseason, particularly in the NBA Finals. Connaughton was electric from the outside over those six games against the Phoenix Suns by knocking down 15 3-pointers, the second most of anyone in the series. As the Bucks hoisted that trophy, Connaughton achieved redemption and won back fans everywhere.
Pat Connaughton’s redemption arc has continued into the 2021-22 season as he continues playing the best basketball of his career with the Milwaukee Bucks
With the Bucks missing several key players early due to injuries and illnesses, Connaughton has had to play a larger role for the champs. He has started in six games this season, which is already more than he did in any of his previous six NBA seasons. Throughout 12 games, Connaughton is playing fantastic basketball by averaging a career-high 10.9 points, five rebounds, and 1.8 assists per contest. His outside shooting is even better than it was last season, as Connaughton is hitting 37.7 percent of his 3-pointers on an average of 6.4 attempts.
Connaughton’s best performance of the season came in Wednesday’s nail-biting 112-100 win over the New York Knicks, where he was sensational. He finished with 23 points while shooting an efficient 8-of-14 from the floor, with seven of those makes coming from behind the arc. It was a career night shooting the basketball for Connaughton with those seven triples, and several of them were very timely as he buried three down the stretch to help the Bucks seal the deal.
There are few words to express how fantastic Connaughton has played over the past year. After being in the dog house, the veteran guard has turned things around entirely and is now considered a fan-favorite for the franchise. Many initially belittled his contract extension, but it might now be viewed as a steal for the defending champions, a title they do not claim without Connaughton.
If he can keep this up, Connaughton is destined for big things with the Milwaukee Bucks this season.