When discussing the Milwaukee Bucks' recent youth movement, a few key players come to mind.
Among them are AJ Green, Andre Jackson Jr. and Ryan Rollins, as all three players have been in the team's rotation for extended periods this year. With these three commanding so much spotlight, it's easy to forget about some of the other youngsters on this roster, such as Chris Livingston. Yet, after his most recent performance in the G-League, a lot of people will start taking notice.
Chris Livingston's recent game should captivate Bucks fans
Livingston has spent most of his season with the Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee's G-League affiliate, allowing him to earn more minutes than he would with the Bucks. The second-year wing has been their best player this season, and that certainly didn't change after the Herd's most recent outing against the Osceola Magic.
On offense, Livingston was a force, posting 35 points on an incredibly efficient 10-of-14 shooting. That included an efficient 4-of-7 from downtown, as Livingston showed off some impressive range. When Livingston couldn't convert, he oftentimes found himself at the foul line, where he sunk six of his seven attempts to cap off an impressive offensive performance.
Livingston did more than just score, as he also hauled in nine rebounds, two steals and one assist. Rebounding remains one of the wing's most desirable attributes, as the uber-athletic Livingston is consistently in attack mode on the glass, whether he's on offense or defense. It's surprising that a player who's 6-foot-6 is tied as the team's leading rebounder.
Livingston's career day led to a 139-118 victory for the Herd, and he earned plenty of spotlight.
The Milwaukee Bucks may have something in Chris Livingston
This performance had plenty of Milwaukee Bucks fans talking about Livingston and his potential as a player in this league. While the NBA is a different beast than the G-League, there's no denying that the young wing displayed the kind of athleticism, scoring and rebounding chops that could help this team as they struggle to keep up with the league's recent reliance on youth.
Athleticism is Chris Livingston's most desirable factor. He's oftentimes been in the spotlight for his highlight dunks, where he climbs an imaginary ladder to throw it down over someone. Again, he is also a fantastic rebounder, using his freak athletic ability to battle and haul them in. While he's still raw as a player, there's no denying that Livingston's physical attributes are beyond captivating.
The odds of the Milwaukee Bucks implementing a recently turned 21-year-old into their rotation this late into the season seems like a stretch, but he's at least worth looking into. The team clearly believes in him, having made him the richest final pick of a draft ever, but sooner or later, they should take a closer look at him in the form of legitimate NBA minutes.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.