After months of deliberation and roster construction on the part of the Milwaukee Bucks front office, it seems like the team’s 15-man rotation is set for the time being.
This is usually the time when we start to look back on Bucks history before turning the page to another regular season. In an earlier article, the site has already gone over former Milwaukee Bucks who remain unsigned in free agency.
With the NBA offseason relatively quiet as the regular season approaches, now is as good a time as any to revisit some of the most underrated Milwaukee Bucks of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era.
We’ll be including some of the Bucks from both the early days of Giannis Antetokounmpo’s ascent to stardom, but also some newer names who were with the team as late as 2021.
Here’s a quick look back at some of the unsung heroes of the current iteration of the Milwaukee Bucks since the drafting of franchise cornerstone Giannis Antetokounmpo in 2013.
Underrated Milwaukee Bucks of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era – John Henson
Big man John Henson made a living almost solely on his shot-blocking and rim-protection, though he often pulled out a surprisingly polished sky hook that earned him the nickname “Captain Hook” during his tenure with the Milwaukee Bucks.
The statistics back this up: in the 2017-18 NBA season, he made 81-of-153 on these shots, which is good for 52.9 percent efficiency according to NBA.com/stats. Those made for some fun memories when the Bucks were still not one of the winningest teams in the association.
In the early years of the Giannis Antetokunmpo era in Milwaukee, Henson often provided a defensive anchor in the paint, complementing Giannis’ versatile defensive abilities on the perimeter. And in the first year of the Mike Budenholzer regime, Henson showed a willingness to expand his game by taking shots way out on the perimeter as well, which was a welcome sight for fans looking to see a more modern offensive system for the Bucks post-Jason Kidd.
From 2013 to 2019, Henson posted norms of 7.8 points, 5.4 boards, and 1.5 blocks according to Basketball Reference. He wasn’t even close to star status by any means, but he proved to be a particularly serviceable bench big to defend opposing teams’ secondary units whenever the likes of Antetokounmpo, Greg Monroe, and Thon Maker took to the bench. This steady bench play lasted for years.
Henson’s impact on the team’s defense, particularly as a rim deterrent, went underappreciated by many fans who were happy to see him go under the Mike Budenholzer era. But for his time here, John Henson gave Bucks fans many good moments and a lot to be excited about before the emergece of the Greek Freak.
Underrated Milwaukee Bucks of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era – Pat Connaughton
Connaughton’s bread and butter has always come in his being a 3-point specialist who can also play good defense, but his game as of late has evolved to be much more than the 3-and-D title. He has been a valuable role player for the Bucks off the bench, and he has made some big shots in the playoffs. However, he is often overlooked, and he does not get the same level of attention as the Bucks’ other stars.
Pat Connaughton was a key contributor to the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 NBA championship run. He made several clutch shots, including a 3-pointer in Game 6 that helped seal the victory for the Bucks. He also arguably played near-perfect defense for the team; per NBA.com/stats matchup data, Devin Booker shot 7-of-16 (43.8 percent) and turned the ball over once with Planet Pat as the closest defender in that 2021 NBA Finals series.
Connaughton was not expected to play a major role in the Milwaukee Bucks’ championship run. But he stepped up big time, averaging 9.2 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 1.2 assists in 30.0 minutes per game in the Finals. He shot 44.1 percent from 3-point range, including two unforgettably clutch “Bang!” shots punctuated by none other than Mike Breen.
Don’t take this the wrong way. Considering he’s likey way past his physical ceiling and that it’s unclear if his game can expand any more than it has, Connaughton is probably adequately rated as a player. But when it comes to his place in Bucks history, many don’t realize how much he has done for this franchise.
Connaughton’s performance was a major reason why the Bucks won the championship. It takes a village to win a chip in this league, and the Bucks chip was proof of that. Guys like Connaughton were the unsung hero of the Finals, and it’s time for Bucks fans — many of whom are still calling for him to be traded — to give him his flowers.
Underrated Milwaukee Bucks of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era – Ersan Ilyasova
Ersan’s value always came in that he was a versatile player who can play multiple positions. He can play as a small forward, power forward, or even center. This versatility had always made him a valuable asset to the Bucks, as he can be used in a variety of lineups.
Considering the eras in which he played and his overall consistency on the court, there was always a lot to like about Ersan.
First, he is a good shooter. He has a career 3-point percentage of 36.7 percent, which is above average for a big man, especially before the current 3-point revolution we see before us today. This shooting ability stretched the floor for the Bucks and opens up driving lanes for Giannis and Middleton for years.
All things considered, he was also a good defender. He was not a lockdown defender by any means (he was always too slow-footed to be one, after all) but his ability to leverage his size in the interior made him solid enough to hold his own against most opponents.
Most notably, he’s shown throughout his career a willingness to sacrifice his body to make plays on defense. Nobody else not named Kyle Lowry drew charges quite like Ersan did throughout his career. In the 2019 season, Ilyasova had 1.40 charges drawn per 36 minutes, a number that was miles ahead of anyone else in the association.
Yet on top of that, and perhaps most importantly, he was a good, unproblematic locker room guy. He is well-liked by his teammates and coaches, and he is always willing to help out the younger players. He had no problem coming off the bench for Antetokounmpo in his final stint with the team, for instance, and still performed exceptionally well especially when Giannis was sidelined with injury.
It’s also worth mentioning that Ersan had two separate tenures with the team throughout this era; one with Jason Kidd and another under the most recent Mike Budenholzer regime. If there was one Buck to afford a loyalty award of sorts, Ilyasova would have to be at least in consideration for that title.
Despite all of these positive qualities and contributions to the franchise throughout this era, Ilyasova is often overlooked because he is not a flashy player. He does not put up big numbers, but he makes a significant contribution to the Bucks’ success. He is a valuable role player who deserves more credit than he gets.
In addition to the reasons mentioned above, Ilyasova is also underrated because he has played for a number of different teams throughout his career. This has made it difficult for him to build a strong reputation with fans and media members.
But Ilyasova has always been a solid player, and he has made significant contributions to the success of every team he has played for. He is a true professional who deserves more recognition for his accomplishments.
Underrated Milwaukee Bucks of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era – Donte DiVincenzo
Donte DiVincenzo often flies under the radar when discussing the most impactful players during the Giannis Antetokounmpo era with the Milwaukee Bucks.
Let’s talk about his on-court ability first. DiVincenzo was and still is a versatile player who contributes on both ends of the court. His ability to defend multiple positions and guard some of the league’s top scorers often goes unnoticed. His defensive prowess complements Giannis’ dominant defensive presence and helps create a well-rounded team defense that has been crucial to the Bucks’ success.
Statistics back this up. The year he went down with injury, NBA.com/stats shows he actually finished in the 81st percentile when defending isolation plays after offensive players only tacked on 0.72 points per possession with Donte as the closest defender.
As one of the team’s only younger players, DiVincenzo’s hustle and high-energy playstyle embodied the Bucks’ culture of hard work and dedication. He often made crucial hustle plays, such as diving for loose balls, grabbing offensive rebounds, and making timely steals. These intangible contributions can have a significant impact on the team’s momentum and success, yet they might not always be reflected in traditional statistics.
DiVincenzo has shown up in big moments during the playoffs, demonstrating his ability to elevate his game on the grandest stage. His performance during the 2021 NBA Playoffs, before his unfortunate injury, showcased his willingness to step up and make key plays when the team needed it the most. His absence due to injury also highlighted his importance to the team’s rotation and overall success.
Considering it was around this time that the Bucks front office started leaning into signing aging but established veterans to be instant difference-makers, Donte’s role as one of the few younger pieces was grossly underestimated. He had already displayed steady progress in his game since entering the league, and his continued development would have made him an even more impactful player alongside Giannis in the coming years.
We know how his Bucks tenure ends. Instead of becoming one of the team’s bright young pieces for the future, he was essentially traded for Serge Ibaka — who rarely saw the floor. Donte eventually became one of the key pieces for the championship Golden State Warriors the following year, and is now poised for a much bigger role on the New York Knicks.
While he might not always grab the headlines, his presence on the court significantly impacted the team’s dynamics and overall performance in his short time with us, which for this writer rightfully earns him the status of one of the most underrated players of this era.
Underrated Milwaukee Bucks of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era: Honorable mentions
Khris Middleton has been Antetokounmpo’s running mate for the past several years, and he is one of the most consistent scorers in the NBA. He has averaged over 20 points per game in each of the past 5 seasons, and he is a two-time All-Star. However, he often gets overshadowed by Antetokounmpo, and he is not always given the credit he deserves. For someone who was but a throw-in in a deal that landed the franchise the talents of Brandon Knight, Middleton is arguably one of the biggest surprises of the franchise in its 55-year history.
It’s tough to call a starting-caliber forward and All-Star champion an underrated player in this association, but the reality is that to this day, some fans overlook the fact that Middleton is a bonafide NBA star. Middleton’s name is often thrown around mercilessly in discussions that bring the likes of James Harden and Damian Lillard to Milwaukee.
With a crafty “old man game” and a deadly proficiency from the mid-range, Middleton has very efficiently (and very quietly!) averaged over 20 points per game in each of the past 5 seasons playing second fiddle to Antetokounmpo, leading to his status as a two-time All-Star.
He is a reliable scorer who can get his points in a variety of ways, including scoring off the dribble, shooting the 3-pointer, and attacking the basket. Middleton has come up big in big games throughout his career, too, as he’s showcased time and time again a knack for making big shots, which makes him a perennial threat to take over any game.
Just like Pat Connaughton, there is no championship to be hoisted in Milwaukee without the clutch shooting and all-around contributions of Khris Middleton.
Big man Larry Sanders was another defensive force in the paint in the early years of the Giannis era. He averaged 1.5 blocks per game in 2013-14, and he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team.
However, he had some off-court issues, and he was eventually waived by the Bucks in 2015. And though his contract situation went on to weigh down the franchise long after he was gone, his game on the court made for some really good moments for Bucks fans in the earliest days of the Giannis Antetokounmpo era.
You’ll have to do your best to separate the player from the person, but any Bucks fan who watched Larry will have to admit: that was one hell of a Bucks player for that time in the franchise’s history.
These players were often overshadowed by Giannis’ ascension to stardom but played crucial roles in supporting his growth and the overall success of the team. They may not have received the same level of recognition as some of their teammates, but their contributions were instrumental in laying the foundation for the Bucks’ rise in the Eastern Conference.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks content as the off-season comes to an end.