Milwaukee Bucks newcomer Gary Trent Jr. has always been a bit of an enigma.
He's a player capable of dazzling shot-making one night and maddening inconsistency the next. For Milwaukee, those two sides of Trent have been on full display this season, and Bucks fans are beginning to understand what Raptors fans knew well: Trent can be both a game-changer and a gamble.
In the Bucks' New Year’s Eve win over the Indiana Pacers, Trent showed why his scoring can be such a difference-maker. He drained multiple tough shots — and when we say tough, we mean defenders draped over him, hands in his face and all — to keep Milwaukee firmly in the game, finishing with 14 points, two assists, two steals and two rebounds.
Most impressively, he shot 4-of-5 from three, displaying the confidence and ability to score in high-pressure moments. Those shots made all the difference in the Bucks coming back from down 19 points. Trent set the table, and Giannis Antetokounmpo did the rest.
Yet at the same time, Bucks fans already know at this point in the season that games like these are often followed by cold stretches, where Trent struggles to find rhythm or impact.
Gary Trent Jr. continues to be streaky for the Milwaukee Bucks
His is a game of duality, and his game log is proof enough: Trent can play either flawlessly or inconsistently, and it's looking like there's no in-between. It's 4-of-5 shooting one night, and then 3-of-10 the next and 0-of-4 the next.
Through 30 games this season, Trent has averaged 9.6 points on 40.5 percent shooting from deep. These numbers tell the story of a very capable bench player who can fade into the background when his shot isn’t falling — but belies Trent's real nature as someone who can elevate a team during tough stretches. That streakiness was apparent in the early part of the season when he shot less than 30 percent from deep over the first 15 games.
Even his defensive impact tends to be up-and-down, which is why his numbers on that end of the floor look relatively pedestrian, and why many believe his reputation as a dogged defender is largely unfounded. Some nights, he's locking up Tyrese Maxey, and other nights, he's getting cooked by bench scorers. It's a maddening inconsistency that does make you have to question which version of him you're getting every other night.
Despite his inconsistency, Trent’s ability to swing games remains invaluable, as it's clear he's someone who is capable of going off for 15 on any given night. It's also not just the numbers he scores but how he puts them up: Trent has shown that he can get hot in a hurry, and once he's there, he stays hot until victory is firmly in the Bucks' grip.
While many might bill him as just another shooter, it's clear that his three-level scoring ability has translated to his new team. On a Bucks team that needs reliable perimeter scoring behind its stars, he can make all the difference in tight contests. The key for Milwaukee will be harnessing Trent’s strengths while weathering his cold spells — a balancing act that Raptors fans are all too familiar with.
Fortunately for the Bucks, Trent's best moments have come in important matchups against Eastern Conference rivals. Who could forget his excellent debut against the Philadelphia 76ers or his season-high 20 points against the surging Brooklyn Nets? Perhaps that's just the reality for players who rely on their jump shooting, which will always be impacted by defenses in different ways compared to, say, an elite slashing game.
If Trent can find just a bit more consistency, he could cement himself as a pivotal piece in Milwaukee’s rotation. Until then, the Milwaukee Bucks will continue riding the highs and lows of his unique game, hoping for more nights like his New Year’s Eve performance. And considering what he's shown he's capable of already, that isn't the worst thing in the world.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis going forward.