December was an eventful - and stressful - month for the Milwaukee Bucks.
While they managed to secure the Emirates NBA Cup Championship against the OKC Thunder, they failed to build much consistent momentum. It was a month full of both winning and losing streaks. They were able to end the year with a bang in a 19-point comeback win over the Indiana Pacers on New Year's Eve, so they went into 2025 on a high note, at least.
As the new year begins, let us first look at some Bucks who raised and lowered their individual stock in December, where Milwaukee went 7-5.
Riser - Gary Trent Jr.
Gary Trent Jr. is finding his footing more and more as the season goes on. In December, he gave the Bucks a sizeable boost off the bench with 11.4 points and 1.2 steals per game while knocking down a red-hot 45.3 percent from deep. Included in this stretch was an array of clutch buckets, including a few against the Pacers. His ability to hit those shots in big moments is crucial for this team.
Trent's one-on-one defense is still a work in progress, but if he can continue to be serviceable on that side of things while also putting up these other numbers, his importance will only continue to grow. He's got what it takes to elevate this Milwaukee Bucks bench to the next level. Months like this are ones that could earn him a lucrative paycheck this coming offseason.
Riser - Ryan Rollins
With the Milwaukee Bucks dealing with several absences through December, including Damian Lillard missing time due to injury and illness, Doc Rivers had to mix up his rotations. That involved calling on Ryan Rollins, who had not been in the rotation since suffering a shoulder injury in early November, to eat up minutes at point guard. He did not disappoint.
The two-way guard flexed his potential in December by posting averages of 5.9 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.1 assists per game while hitting 41.2 percent of his 3-pointers, serving as a do-it-all threat. It's unclear what role he will have when everyone is healthy, but it is clear that he can help this team when he is on the basketball court.
Faller - Taurean Prince
After starting the season as the best statistical shooter in the league, Taurean Prince's production fell off a cliff in the month of December. He knocked down a mere 31 percent of his outside looks across 12 games after hitting 54.2 percent in the first two months. In turn, his overall production has also taken a dive, with him averaging just 5.6 points in December; he was at 8.7 in the first two months.
If Taurean Prince will be on the floor in crucial moments, he must knock down these shots, especially with the great looks he gets. Obviously, as evidenced by his production during the first two months of the season, Prince has it in him to be an excellent floor spacer. For now, he just has to keep letting the long ball fly and hope some start falling through the net with consistency.
Faller - AJ Green
Sticking with players who saw their 3-point percentage dip in December, it wasn't the best month for AJ Green. After shooting 47.8 percent from downtown during the first two months of the season, the marksman shot just 38.7 percent of those shots in December. On top of that, his defense wasn't as sharp as it was when he first leapt into the rotation early on during those two months.
AJ Green's December isn't cause for panic. He was still a solid rotation piece for the Bucks, but as a young player, he still has some growing to do and will go through these rough patches. In the long run, it can help him become a better player, especially with the group around him assuring him to keep his head up. His growth will be crucial for this team in January and beyond.
Riser - Bobby Portis
December wasn't a perfect stretch for Bobby Portis, but there's no doubt that it was his best month of the season thus far. The big man averaged 16 points and 9.1 rebounds, giving this team a big lift with several of their stars missing time. His uptick in production in these two areas was crucial for the short-handed Milwaukee Bucks and helped them stay afloat in several games.
While those numbers were impressive, perhaps the two most eye-catching feats from the big man in December were his averages of 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals per contest. Not only was he scoring and attacking the glass, but he was also facilitating and using active hands defensively to create extra opportunities for the Milwaukee Bucks on offense. He had a few lapses, but overall, it was positive.
Riser - Khris Middleton
After missing the first two months of the season, Khris Middleton debuted on December 6. Though it took him a while to get himself going, the overall production from Middleton was positive, especially as the month neared an end. He had a three-game stretch where he scored a combined 63 points, showing that he still has that elite scoring prowess in his game; he just has to find that rhythm.
Obviously, the Milwaukee Bucks need Middleton at his best if they ever want to scale the mountain of title contention again. There were glimpses of the cold-blooded killer from the 2021 title run and the 2024 NBA Playoffs in there, but now, the big challenge will be finding a groove and staying in it while also staying healthy.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.