Not every rookie comes in and gets the keys to the franchise immediately. They must find their niche and impact the game that way early in their career. Brayden Burries understood the assignment. Not only has he been the best rebounding guard on the Milwaukee Bucks, but he's quickly making a case to be the best rebounding guard in the entire NBA.
Burries' rebounding has been sensational
In three games since becoming a starter, Burries is averaging 8.3 rebounds. That's the second-most boards per game among all starting guards, trailing only Memphis' Cedric Corward (8.8). Burries still has some work to do, but for him to be this impactful this early in his career is a great sign for where he could be in due time. Sooner or later, he will be at the top of that list.
It largely boils down to effort. Burries is always running to the hoop, whether it's off his own miss or that of a teammate. He never takes a possession off. After seeing how poorly the Bucks rebounded during the Doc Rivers era, this has been a breath of fresh air. It's nice to have players, even ones who are just 6-foot-4, show some effort in attacking the glass.
Perhaps the most impressive part of it all is that four of those rebounds per contest come from the offensive side of the floor. That is the highest mark among all starting guards, and it's not even close. Burries' tenacious rebounding is a significant reason why both he and Tyler Herro rank in the top eight in second-chance points NBA-wide over these last three games, giving the offense life.
Again, this is all just in his first three games as a starter. The guard still has room to grow.
The guard has been a bright spot for Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks haven't won many games lately, but if there is a silver lining, it's been Burries adapting to life as a starter quickly. In three games since the change, he's averaging 13 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. He just had the best game of his young career with 21 points, 11 boards, and six assists in an ugly defeat to the Toronto Raptors.
With plenty of ball-dominant pieces in tow, Burries won't get 21 points every night. However, even on the nights when he's not scoring in bunches, he knows he can make an impact by running to the rim after every shot, no matter which end of the floor the team is on. Sooner or later, double-digit boards per game might be a common occurrence.
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