Andre Jackson Jr. has rapidly emerged as the Milwaukee Bucks' most impactful perimeter defender. The sophomore consistently makes his presence felt, using his athleticism, instincts and relentless motor to disrupt opposing offenses. Yet, despite his defensive prowess, Jackson finds himself chained to the bench far too often.
Take a look at his minutes over the last four games: eight against Orlando, 21 against Brooklyn, 12 against Boston and 11 against Atlanta. The inconsistency in playing time suggests one thing—head coach Doc Rivers doesn’t trust him yet. That hesitation is not only puzzling but also detrimental to a team that desperately needs defensive versatility.
It's puzzling due to how many times Rivers himself has acknowledged the value Jackson brings to the court. After the win against Brooklyn on Sunday, Rivers had this to say about Jackson's defense in his post-game presser:
"I thought was the key to the game in a lot of ways. I mean everybody , but I thought Dre's defensive energy, I think he had three or four steals, got his hands on the ball. I thought his impact on the game was tremendous. If there was a game ball, which we don't do in basketball a lot, he would have gotten it."
Andre Jackson Jr.'s impact on the defensive end is too good to ignore
Jackson’s impact on the defensive end is undeniable. He’s already shown he can lock down some of the NBA's most dangerous offensive players. Against Detroit, he forced a surging Cade Cunningham into tough shots and disrupted passing lanes with his quick hands. Against Boston, his ability to switch onto multiple positions was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disheartening defensive performance.
Matchup data on NBA.com/stats should affirm what the eye test already says. With Jackson Jr. as the closest defender, opposing forwards have shot 10-of-37 (27 percent) while guards have shot 41-of-99 (41.4 percent). Those aren't just competent numbers - they're close to elite.
According to Cleaning the Glass, opponents are scoring 5.8 points per 100 possessions fewer whenever Jackson is on the court - that's good for the 83rd percentile among wings in defensive rating. (To put that number into perspective, Giannis Antetokounmpo is only in the 53rd percentile in his position.) What's more, opponents are also turning the ball over 1.7 percentage points more, and rebounding their misses 4.4 percentage points less during Jackson's starting minutes.
Admittedly, while his defense is NBA-ready, Jackson’s offensive game is still a work in progress. He’s prone to turnovers, hesitates on open looks, and when he does take them, doesn't convert on enough open looks, which can gum up the Bucks’ offense and fail to keep opposing defenses honest. But for this writer, that’s precisely why he needs more playing time, not less. Mistakes are inevitable for a young player, but the only way he’ll learn to navigate his offensive struggles is through live reps.
Rivers’ hesitancy to fully embrace Jackson is understandable in some respects. Milwaukee is a win-now team with championship expectations and every possession matters. But relying too heavily on veterans like Khris Middleton, Gary Trent Jr. and Taurean Prince while limiting Jackson’s development could come back to haunt the Milwaukee Bucks.
After all, Rivers has also himself said that Jackson Jr. can get it done even without scoring. After the Bucks' wire-to-wire victory versus Indiana, Rivers had this to say:
"I loved our defensive effort, you know, it's amazing. Andre had zero points and he had probably one of the biggest impacts in the game just defending Haliburton for most of the game, making different plays...that's the most locked in that I've seen us defensively. That first half was unbelievable to watch."
A player like Jackson offers a skill set that’s irreplaceable on a team with aspirations to beat juggernauts like the Boston Celtics in the postseason. His ability to guard elite wings and contain explosive guards is a weapon Milwaukee can’t afford to underutilize.
If the Bucks are serious about addressing their defensive inconsistencies, Rivers has to let Jackson play through his growing pains. More minutes for Jackson won’t just improve the team’s defense now—it will also prepare him to be an even more reliable asset when the games matter most. Rivers’ short leash is doing more harm than good, and it’s time to cut it loose.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis going forward.