After going undrafted out of the University of Northern Iowa in the 2022 NBA Draft, A.J. Green quickly inked a two-way deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The appeal of Green was easy to see. During his four-year stay in college, the guard averaged an eye-catching 17.9 points while shooting 37.8 percent from long range on 7.1 attempts per game. The Bucks are always looking to add more shooting, and Green has translated that marksmanship to the next level thus far.
In 26 games with the Bucks this season, Green has shot an impressive 33-of-77 (42.9 percent) on his 3-point attempts. The sample size is small, but that is the best percentage on the entire Bucks’ roster this season. Green’s role has been inconsistent this season, but if he can continue shooting with these types of results, he could possibly have a bigger role down the line.
A.J. Green has the blueprint to make a name for himself with the Bucks
The blueprint is there for a player like Green, whose strongest attribute is his long-range shooting. Over the past four seasons, the Bucks have consistently targeted a player to be a reliable kick-out threat waiting on the perimeter for Giannis Antetokounmpo. In 2019-20, the Bucks brought in one of the best 3-point shooters ever in Kyle Korver. In 2020-21, it was Bryn Forbes. Over the last two years, Grayson Allen has played this role.
Moreso with Korver and Forbes, the sole purpose of these two was to essentially let it fly from the 3-point line when given the chance. Both players had success in Milwaukee because of the quality looks they got playing alongside Antetokounmpo. Allen has also succeeded, but he has evolved as a player and done more than just shoot triples. If he keeps shooting it this well, Green could be the next player in line to take on the Korver and Forbes role for the Milwaukee Bucks.
Two of the most prominent attributes needed to fill this particular role are being a good shooter on catch-and-shoot opportunities and being able to connect on open looks. Interestingly, those have been two of Green’s biggest strengths this season. According to NBA.com/stats, Green has buried 28 of his 58 catch-and-shoot 3-point looks this season (48.3 percent) while also sinking 14 of his 20 “wide open” looks. Green has fearlessly shot the basketball during his rookie campaign thus far, and his potential is starting to show.
If A.J. Green can potentially become even a passable defender, his future in this league will be even brighter than it already is. For now, he will remain on a two-way deal with the Bucks, but that may change soon enough. The Bucks do have two open roster spots at the moment, and one of them is in need of filling soon by NBA requirements. If the Bucks think Green is someone who could play in games later in the year, which requires a standard deal, perhaps they could promote him.
Keep an eye on Green as the weeks go on.