A.J. Green breaks Bucks’ rookie record for highest 3-point percentage

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 30 (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - DECEMBER 30 (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

After going undrafted in the 2022 NBA draft, A.J. Green, who played collegiately at the University of Northern Iowa, signed a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks.

He split time between the NBA team and the G-League Wisconsin Herd. You might be hard-pressed to find anyone who would’ve thought that Green would set a Milwaukee rookie record in his first season with the team.

Green appeared in 35 games in 2022-23, averaging just under 10 minutes a game. He averaged 4.4 points per game, but it was his shooting from the 3-point line that got the attention of the Bucks and the NBA. Green made 44-of-105 3-point attempts, a .419 3-point percentage. Of all rookies with 100 or more 3-point attempts, Green’s .419 percentage is the highest for a Bucks rookie in team history.

Here are Milwaukee rookies with the highest 3-point shooting percentage in team history (minimum of 100 threes attempted to qualify):

Milwaukee Bucks rookies with the highest 3-point shooting percentage

.419-A.J. Green, 2022-23
.404-Malcolm Brogdon, 2016-17
.393-Ray Allen, 1996-97
.391-Lee Mayberry, 1992-93
.374-Brandon Jennings, 2009-10
.365-Ersan Ilyasova, 2006-07

In addition to setting a record for the highest 3-point percentage in Bucks’ history, Green also led all rookies in the NBA this season in 3-point shooting percentage, per Stathead. Four rookies shot .400 or better from the 3-point line this season… Green (.419); Keegan Murray (.411), Jaylin Williams (.407), and Jaden Hardy (.404).

While Green attempted 105 threes for the Bucks this season, he attempted 20 2-point shots (going 9-for-20). He was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free throw line. Green’s .418 mark from three as a rookie is tied for the 17th-highest 3-point shooting percentage for a rookie (minimum 100 shots attempted) in league history. Golden State’s Anthony Morrow has the record with a .467 3-point shooting percentage in his rookie year of 2008-09.

Of all Bucks with a minimum of 100 threes attempted, Green had the second-best percentage on the team this year. Jevon Carter led the Bucks with a .421 percentage, followed by Green and then Joe Ingles (.409). Grayson Allen ended the season with a .399 shooting percentage from three.

The Bucks had four players in the top 50 for 3-point shooting this season

Milwaukee had four players in the league’s Top 50 for 3-point shooting percentage in 2022-23 (minimum of 100 attempts). Carter and Green finished 13th and 14th respectively, while Ingles was 27th and Grayson Allen was 43rd.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.