3 Players Bucks’ MarJon Beauchamp must look to emulate as he develops
By Dalton Sell
The Milwaukee Bucks had the oldest roster in the NBA this past season, and it came back to bite them in the end as they could not keep up with a younger and more athletic Miami Heat team.
This off-season, the Bucks should look to add a dose of youth to the mix. That does not mean the team should trade away all of their veterans, but rather that they should sprinkle in a few younger players to their rotation. One player already in-house that fits the mold is MarJon Beauchamp, the Bucks’ first round pick in the 2022 NBA Draft.
Beauchamp did not play much during his rookie season, but when he did, he showed signs that he could be a quality player. In a league that is becoming so wing dominant, the Bucks need to get the youngster more involved next season, which means his development this off-season will be vital.
It would be easy to say that Beauchamp needs to study greats like Giannis Antetokounmpo to get better. While Beauchamp should certainly look to get in the gym with Antetokounmpo, let us look at a few other players across the league that the soon-to-be sophomore should look to emulate.
No. 1 – Caleb Martin, Miami Heat
What an incredible run it has been for Caleb Martin. After being cut by the Charlotte Hornets, the forward inked a deal with the Miami Heat, which has taken his career to new heights. Martin was a solid rotational player in the regular season, but he’s turned into a significant contributor during an incredible postseason run by the Heat; Bucks fans know this all too well. Beauchamp could learn a thing or two by analyzing Martin’s game.
Martin is essentially Miami’s Swiss Army Knife, as he does a bit of everything. During this playoff run, his biggest strength has been his scoring and shooting. He’s averaging 12.6 points while also hitting 41.5 percent from behind the arc. Yet, he’s also been a solid facilitator and strong piece on the defensive end, utilizing his 6-foot-5 build to guard multiple positions at a high level. He’s the latest example of how good the Heat are at developing their young players, which is something the Bucks have primarily lacked outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton.
Beauchamp checks off a lot of the same boxes as Martin. At 6-foot-6, he’s a lengthy defender who can be switchable and match up with multiple positions. They’re also both extremely athletic and can make major things happen in transition. Martin is a better scorer and outside shooter, but that is a key part of Beauchamp’s game that he can develop. As Martin and the Heat look to capture an NBA title, Beauchamp should keep an eye on the ascending 27-year-old.