Kevin Porter Jr. didn’t mince words after the Milwaukee Bucks’ gritty 110–103 comeback win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. When asked about AJ Green’s impact, the veteran guard made his stance crystal clear: “We need him.”
“He’s lights out. Everyone in the world knows what AJ can do,” Porter said postgame when asked about his smooth-shooting teammate.
“Every shot, I think, is going in when he shoots it — especially when it’s quick, decisive. We need him. He’s hit big shots in the fourth since I’ve been here. We’re gonna need all those for the last three games and then the playoffs.”
AJ Green keeps making a difference for the Milwaukee Bucks
Green didn’t have a box-score explosion against Minnesota, but once again delivered in the moments that count. His fourth-quarter threes — timely, clean, and without the slightest hint of hesitation — helped crack open a game that looked like it was slipping away.
The biggest highlight then was perhaps a transition three from the Fiserv Forum logo, which eventually helped the team put away the Wolves for good. For a Milwaukee Bucks team that clawed back from being down 24, his shotmaking was one of the stabilizing forces late.
In a second unit that's fluctuated all year due to trades, injuries and experimentation, AJ Green has become the constant. His elite catch-and-shoot ability has quietly made him one of Milwaukee’s most reliable off-ball threats. Since the All-Star break, Green is shooting over 42 percent from three, and he’s done it without needing a ton of usage.
What makes Green’s impact even more valuable is that he plays without forcing the issue. He doesn’t hunt shots — he punishes defensive lapses, and he does it in rhythm. On a roster with ball-dominant stars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, that kind of plug-and-play scoring is gold.
The proof is in the pudding on this one: AJ Green is playing eight fourth-quarter minutes per game in the Bucks' recent 6-0 stretch. It's clear head coach Doc Rivers trusts the sharpshooting wing even in the toughest moments, during which he's shot 50 percent from behind the 3-point line. For the season, the Bucks have been a net-plus 4.9 with AJ Green on the floor and a net-minus 0.59 when Green sits. There's a reason he has a strong argument for the starting shooting guard spot.
He's certainly had his struggles as of late, whether on the defensive end with his propensity to pick up fouls or his shooting running into moments of streakiness throughout the rigors of an 82-game season. But through those struggles, he's proven that he's someone you can depend on to add value to the game and play winning basketball.
As the Milwaukee Bucks eye a postseason run, Porter’s words should bring encouragement to the third-year player. Green’s not just a luxury shooter: he’s a pressure-release valve who spaces the floor, hits momentum-swinging shots, and doesn’t take possessions off. In tight playoff games where every inch of space matters, his gravity could be the difference between a crowded paint and an open driving lane for Giannis Antetokounmpo or Damian Lillard.
They’ll need everyone in rhythm heading into the final stretch, but if Green stays confident and decisive, he might just be the under-the-radar X-factor this team rides deep into May.
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