After breakout season, Bucks youngster is fumbling preseason opportunities

As the Milwaukee Bucks gear up for another season, one name that was expected to shine has struggled to find his footing: A.J. Green.

After a promising stint last year, expectations were high that the young guard could capitalize on a largely successful campaign heading into this year's NBA Summer League and preseason.

Green was nothing short of a revelation for Milwaukee in his minutes last season after the decline of Pat Connaughton led to increased minutes for the undrafted sharpshooter. He was called "AJ Automatic" for a reason. On catch-and-shoot attempts, which made up over 70 percent of his shot attempts, Green made 42.5 percent of his nearly three attempts a night, which are excellent numbers for an undrafted player in his sophomore season.

In fact, an AJ Green spot-up attempt was good for 1.23 points per possession and registered an effective field goal percentage of 63.1 percent — numbers that placed Green in the 92nd percentile for that play type. It was only his pedestrian pull-up shooting numbers — 34.5 percent efficiency on 0.5 attempts a night — that dragged his overall 3-point percentage down to a still-elite 40.8 percent.

His defense wasn't bad, either. According to matchup data on NBA.com/stats, guards shot 56-of-126 (44.4 percent) while forwards shot 28-of-59 (47.5 percent) whenever Green was the closest defender. Those aren't lockdown numbers by any means, but those numbers show serviceable defense while also relative versatility for a 6-foot-4 guard.

So, it should come as no surprise that expectations were high for Green to take that next step in becoming the 3-and-D guard that the team had been in need of since the departure of Grayson Allen and the decline of Connaughton.

However, his performance thus far has left fans and analysts questioning his readiness to contribute meaningfully this season.

AJ Green hasn't been "AJ Automatic" so far for the Milwaukee Bucks

After not playing in the Summer League, Green has struggled to find his footing in the preseason. In two games so far, he has averaged just three points per game while shooting 22.2 percent both overall and from 3-point range. With only six total points across these appearances, it’s clear that Green is not meeting the expectations set by both fans and coaches alike.

To be fair, AJ Green isn't the only Milwaukee Buck who has struggled in the early goings of this season. His role as a tertiary scoring option in these games has been a complete 180-degree turnaround from the floor-spacer expectations around him when he plays with the Bucks stars, which may be one reason for his struggles so far.

"Dairy Bird" will have to fight for his minutes amid Milwaukee's logjam

With the acquisition of Gary Trent Jr. and the surprise emergence of rookie guard AJ Johnson, it seems that head coach Doc Rivers is still assessing where Green fits within the team's rotation.

Green arrived in Milwaukee as an undrafted free agent with a reputation for being a sharpshooter during his college career at Northern Iowa, where he averaged nearly 18 points per game in his final season. Last season, he showed flashes of potential, contributing effectively as a role player during crucial stretches. However, this offseason was supposed to be his time to break out and solidify his place in the lineup.

With the regular season looming, AJ Green finds himself at a crossroads. The Bucks need reliable scoring options off the bench, especially as they aim for another championship run. If he cannot regain his shooting touch and confidence quickly, there is a real possibility that he could find himself on the outside looking in when it comes to consistent playing time.

The upcoming weeks will be critical for Green as he seeks to turn around this rocky start. The Bucks' coaching staff will undoubtedly be monitoring his progress closely, hoping that he can harness his potential before it’s too late.

While AJ Green was once viewed as a breakout candidate for the Milwaukee Bucks this season, early performances in both the Summer League and preseason have cast doubt on his ability to meet those expectations. As fans await further developments, one question lingers: Can Green rediscover his form before the stakes get higher? Time will tell.

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