The short-handed Milwaukee Bucks have kept their good stretch going following their 112-91 win over the Chicago Bulls in their final game before Christmas.
No Giannis Antetokounmpo, no Damian Lillard, no problem. It was a great team win for the Bucks following their victory over the Washington Wizards, again without their top two scorers. What made the win a bit more special was that they lost to the Bulls by 21 points in their home opener back in October; they returned the favor on Monday night to remain fifth in the Eastern Conference.
AJ Green has had a breakout season for the Milwaukee Bucks, going from being a two-way player to an integral part of the rotation and being one of the most impactful players on the roster.
Doc Rivers didn't trust him early on, but with his consistent shooting, much improved defense and now playmaking on the rise, Green is becoming a well-known name across the league.
AJ Green's playmaking is an area that could take his game to a new level
We know Green is deadly from deep, but the playmaking is now adding another level to the game and can open up the offense even more for the Bucks. On a night without Lillard or Giannis, facilitating was down to two-way rising guard Ryan Rollins and Khris Middleton. Green chipped in with three assists off the bench. He is becoming a regular at assisting his teammates, which will keep defenses guessing as they focus on his shooting.
The assists were the icing on top of his 10-point performance, where he shot 3-for-8 (37.5 percent) and had an off night from deep, going just 1-of-5 (20 percent). He did have a +/- of +18 and held opponents to 44.4 percent shooting from the field for the game, which were positives.
Green is averaging 1.3 assists per game, which isn't mindblowing. Yet, a role player chipping in with a few here and there is always a positive, especially since the team isn't solely relying on the stars for playmaking. For December, he has played in all eight games, averaging 2.5 assists, with him registering six in the win over the Wizards and four against the Hawks and Cavaliers.
This recent trend is nothing but a plus for the Bucks, but it is also a huge boost for Green as he becomes more well-known throughout the NBA. He is having a breakout season and is under contract for the 2025-26 season, but he is slowly increasing his worth, and for himself, it may lead to opposing teams offering him huge money in the coming offseasons (I hope not).
It has been a brilliant run from AJ Green so far this season, and he continues to get better and better, as do the Milwaukee Bucks. He has been integral in their NBA Cup win and how they have turned their season around. The sky is the limit for him, and the young guard is just getting started.
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