Ryan Rollins has been one of the Bucks’ best surprises this season and is keeping up his strong momentum after an explosive start. The Bucks have had more mixed results in the last six games (3-3 record), but Rollins continues to be a solid contributor on both ends. He will need to maintain his current level of play throughout the season for the Bucks to succeed in a tight Eastern Conference.
Rollins is becoming a household name
Before the season, Ryan Rollins was relatively unknown to even many Bucks fans. Now he’s proving himself as arguably the second-best player on the team and is making up for a disappointing start for Myles Turner. So far, he’s been the perfect two-way guard for this new era of Milwaukee basketball.
It’s no surprise that the Bucks’ best lineups have come with Rollins at point. Although there are other point guards on the team, none bring the same two-way impact and creation as Rollins. With every passing game, he reaffirms his status as a building block for the Bucks.
After a couple of extremely high-scoring performances earlier in the season, Rollins' scoring volume has come back down to earth. His points in each game will depend heavily on the coverage of opposing defenses and the scoring aggression of Giannis Antetokounmpo. However, Rollins has consistently found ways to be efficient as a scorer, regardless of his opportunities.
On the season, he’s now averaging 17 points per game while shooting 52 percent from the field and 43 percent from three. His efficiency would be impressive for an off-ball player, but it is doubly so considering how many shots he creates for himself. His versatility finishing inside the arc and shooting from long range makes him an especially tough cover.
But Rollins’ biggest strength is arguably still his defense. He has been good as both a primary defender and a playmaker off the ball. He’s one of the league leaders in deflections and averages nearly two steals per game. Having a good defender at point guard is such an advantage in today’s NBA. Many other teams have to put up with a defensive liability to get Rollins’ offensive production, but the Bucks instead get a positive on both ends.
Even if Rollins’ shooting regresses throughout the season, he has still built a foundation to be a productive NBA player. He’s playing with all the confidence in the world, and not overly reliant on any one skill. Rollins is showing all the tools to be a building block for the Bucks as they contend now and into the future.