Brayden Burries was simply phenomenal throughout the preseason, looking like the Milwaukee Bucks' best player at times. Given how productive he was, one might be shocked to find out that Burries had a rough time finding his footing as a jump shooter, knocking down fewer than 30 percent of them. The guard's ascension to stardom can come quickly if he hits those more efficiently.
Burries' jumper can fuel further success
Milwaukee's prized rookie shot just 8-of-32 (25 percent) on jump shots across the preseason, which included going just 2-of-17 (11.8 percent) on his 3-pointers. The fact that he still finished second on the team in points per game despite these struggles made it easier to sweep these woes under the rug, as it showed just how good he can be even when that shot isn't falling.
Most of his success came directly at the rim, shooting an efficient 13-of-18 (72.2 percent) from less than five feet. Despite being an unpolished rookie, Burries looked fearless whenever he drove to the hoop and was incredibly successful. If he can keep up that confident attacking while also sinking his jumpers with more regularity, he'll be an offensive weapon in no time.
The Milwaukee Bucks certainly shouldn't be worried about his preseason slump, given that Burries was an excellent shooter in college. That is especially true regarding his perimeter shot, where he buried 39.1 percent of his shots at Arizona. It feels like only a matter of time before he gets that shot to fall with more regularity.
Burries is due for a breakout rookie year
Burries was already poised for a big role with the Milwaukee Bucks, but the team waiving Kevin Porter Jr. will only fuel his importance. Suddenly, he is one of the leaders off the bench, and the Bucks need his productivity to stay afloat. Considering Milwaukee waived one of their most productive pieces from a year ago, it feels safe to say they think Burries is up for the challenge.
After seeing what he did in the preseason, it's easy to see where they are coming from. The guard put up 14 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Sure, it was a small sample size, but all of the two-way talent Burries possesses was on full display. Once that jumper starts falling more, Burries is bound to blossom into something special for Milwaukee.
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