Assessing Goran Dragic’s debut in the Milwaukee Bucks’ win over Pistons

After signing with the Milwaukee Bucks in early March, Goran Dragic had been sidelined due to lingering knee soreness.

Having last played on February 13 as a member of the Chicago Bulls, Dragic was listed as probable on Milwaukee’s injury report leading up to Monday’s game. With both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jrue Holiday both sidelined, Dragic was expected to see his first minutes as a Buck, which he did in his first game action in about a month and a half.

Assessing Goran Dragic’s debut in the Milwaukee Bucks’ win over Pistons

With 2:22 left in the first quarter, Dragic subbed in for Jevon Carter. Just over a minute later, Dragic found Wesley Matthews inside for a layup via a crafty wrap-around pass. On Milwaukee’s next trip down the floor, the guard missed a floater in the lane. He picked up two fouls quickly in the first.

Dragic ended the first quarter on a high note by finding Grayson Allen for a 3-pointer in the closing seconds to put the Bucks up four. Starting the second quarter on the floor, Dragic notched his third assist courtesy of a smooth step-back jumper from Khris Middleton. The veteran’s second and last shot attempt of the night was a corner 3-pointer, which he also missed.

Given that this was his first action in a long time, Dragic was on a tight minutes limit; the veteran logged just under nine minutes of action. As expected after missing an extended period and being on the court with a new team, the guard looked a bit rusty but started building chemistry with his new teammates via those assists. Dragic should only continue to find his footing as he gets on the floor with his teammates more consistently. For his first game with the Bucks, there is certainly not much to complain about Dragic’s performance.

While the sample size was small, Dragic showed glimpses of being exactly what the team thought he could be when they signed him: a quality third-string point guard. While he was not looking for his own shot, Dragic showed off his facilitating prowess by getting his teammates involved. When the Bucks are healthy, Dragic’s minutes might not be bountiful, but he can be a useful piece when called upon. With no timetable for Jrue Holiday’s return, Dragic could potentially see some more minutes in the immediate future.

Stay tuned to see just how Dragic’s role potentially evolves with the Bucks down the stretch.