Stepping into the association as a pair of 19 years olds, Milwaukee Bucks rookies AJ Johnson and Tyler Smith were never expected to play prominent roles right away.
Instead, to get their toes dipped into NBA waters, they've both spent significant time in the G-League with the Wisconsin Herd, Milwaukee's affiliate. As expected, both players had some struggles early on during their tenure. Things just weren't clicking. Yet, the hope was that the extra reps could do them some good and help them get a better feel for the game, and lately, that has certainly been the case.
Johnson and Smith have been brimming with potential from the beginning, but it has really been on display as of late. Whether it's Johnson's quickness and eye-popping athletic ability or Smith's deep shooting or leaping capability, these two have what it takes to make a name for themselves, and they are starting to back it up with some very strong production on the stat sheets.
Two of their teammates with the Herd share the same opinion regarding the growth on display lately.
Teammates praise undeniable growth from Milwaukee Bucks rookies
Following the Herd's recent win over the Motor City Cruise on Thursday, this writer chatted with both Terence Davis and Henry Ellenson, two veterans with NBA experience playing crucial minutes for this young squad, to get an inside perspective on what they've seen from the rookies from the time the season began several months ago until now.
They both flat-out praised the development and improvement they've soon from the pair.
Davis: "They're definitely starting to figure it out. More game reps from them. These guys, they're so young. Once you put that into perspective, like, 'Man, these guys just turned 20 years old, never went to college,' so, they're starting to figure it out. These guys are going to be around the league and the NBA for a long time...
You see AJ starting to find his shot; he's been lighting it up from the 3-point line for a few games. And then Tyler, I think he led us in plus-minus for two, three games straight. They're definitely starting to come along."
Ellenson: They've been great, especially from where we started off this season to where we are now late in January. They've grown a ton. AJ, the way he attacks and gets to the rim, there's not too many guys who can do it, so it's a very special talent. It's very fun to see him grow. Tyler is the same way, learning how to get to his spots and play his game, play to his strengths. Those guys have been growing a ton, and they've been huge for us in getting wins, so it's been fun to see."
While it was obvious to see the growth from anyone watching the games, it's even more welcoming to hear about it from players sharing the same locker room and court with the two young rookies.
Echoing what Davis and Ellenson said, these two have bright futures ahead if they keep working and improving day by day. The key to extending Milwaukee's title window is finding young players who can complement the stars as they age, and while they are not there yet, these two will have a strong case to help the cause down the line if they keep showing this type of rapid growth in the G-League.
It was certainly a gamble by Milwaukee to select two players who could not immediately help their veteran core compete for a title, but the vision is starting to make itself clear.
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