Bucks' AJ Green answering key preseason question in the best way possible

Last season, AJ Green flashed his potential whenever he got on the court for the Milwaukee Bucks, but he never earned enough time to fully display what he could bring.

Leading up to the 2024-25 NBA season, there were plenty of fans who believed Green could be on the cusp of a breakout year, though it would truly hinge on one factor: Defense. Anyone who's ever watched the youngster knows he can shoot the ball like few others can, but on a team starving for perimeter defense, being more than a one-way player would be the best pathway to minutes.

Could Green cement his spot in Milwaukee's' rotation by becoming a reliable defender? So far, yes.

Early this season, Green has taken that challenge to heart, and he's emerging as a legitimate piece for the Milwaukee Bucks due to his marksmanship and eye-catching defensive effort. All of this was on display in the team's most recent win over the Houston Rockets.

AJ Green impresses with nice defensive outing in Bucks' win

For a big part of this game, AJ Green found himself playing over fellow youngster Andre Jackson Jr. That meant Green would often guard one of the opposing team's top scorers; in this case, he saw a good amount of Jalen Green. With impressive speed and athleticism, Jalen Green could have been a tough cover for AJ Green, but the Bucks guard didn't back down.

No. 20 was active on defense all night, sticking to Jalen Green like glue as he fought through screens and made every possession a challenge with his physicality. AJ didn't account for all of this, but Jalen did have an ugly night shooting the ball, going just 9-of-24 (37.5 percent) from the floor en route to a 21-point performance. AJ Green had a hand in throwing him off his rhythm.

AJ Green will never be the most athletic or the bounciest player on the court, making his ability to stick with an uber-athletic player like Jalen Green all the more impressive. Rather than combatting him with athleticism, Green used his 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame to meet him with physicality, and it clearly worked in the Milwaukee Bucks' favor.

If Green can continue to play this brand of defense while also sinking his triples - he hit an incredibly clutch one in this game to keep Milwaukee alive - his place in this rotation should be stamped. Green has what it takes to be a legitimate two-way weapon for this basketball team, but he must continue to build upon the growth he's shown on the defensive end early on.

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