When the Milwaukee Bucks decided not to bring back Jae Crowder in the offseason, it raised eyebrows among fans and analysts alike around the association.
After all, Crowder had long been a staple of playoff-caliber rosters with his gritty defense and occasionally hot shooting. The team did trade five second-round picks to land him, and one would think Jon Horst and company would want to maximize that investment. At a time when the team is in need of fresh legs, it's left them without many options to land just that.
But early this season, Crowder’s injury woes and the rise of Milwaukee’s young wings have all but justified the decision to let him walk.
Crowder still looks good when he plays, but he has the injury bug
Crowder hit the ground running with his new team in the Sacramento Kings, showcasing flashes of the defensive acumen and hustle plays that have defined his career. He showed them what he's always had in his bag thus far in his career: competent 3-point shooting and an implacable sort of energy that radiates and makes everyone around him better.
For a moment in time, Jae Crowder the dog was back, and he hushed all of the doubters who still had memories of the injured and aging Crowder that the Milwaukee Bucks traded five seconds for.
His eight points and four rebounds in 27 minutes in his debut looked good on paper for a player who had just been signed hours prior. But it was his willingness to get into Julius Randle's face and be that kind of enforcer that young players would feed off of that endeared fans to him just one game in.
However, it only took one more game for the 33-year-old to roll his ankle, leaving many fans anxiously waiting for an update—a stark reminder of the durability issues that plagued his time with Milwaukee, though it appears he may play through this one. Sacramento went on to lose that game to the Portland Trail Blazers despite Crowder's 10 points and two rebounds. He played just 21 minutes.
Last season, Crowder was a fine player when he played - but that's just the thing. His playing time was inconsistent, and so when he did see the floor, he was often a step behind, culminating in minimal impact during the Milwaukee Bucks' brief postseason runs.
Milwaukee's young wings would not be here if the team retained Crowder
There's an argument to be made that the decision to move on from Crowder was partly about what the Bucks had—and it’s paying off. Young wings like Andre Jackson Jr. and AJ Green have since stepped up in the absence of an elite defensive presence, filling the gaps that Jae Crowder was supposed to address.
Andre Jackson Jr., in particular, has been a revelation. The rookie’s defensive energy, athleticism and ability to guard multiple positions have added a dimension that Crowder simply couldn’t provide last season. Players are shooting 49-of-125 around Jackson, good for just 39.2 percent efficiency. That's not just a team-leading kind of defensive prowess: it's ranked him among the best in the association.
Meanwhile, AJ Green has shown flashes of floor-spacing and stout defense that Milwaukee desperately needed. He was originally implemented to be a floor-spacer, but his near-lockdown defense against even the toughest of scorers has proven to be a revelation for a team needing more toughness on the perimeter.
The Bucks’ young wings are not just younger and healthier—they’re cheaper. Crowder would have tied up valuable cap space while offering diminishing returns and only continued the ongoing trend of relying on washed veterans. Instead, Milwaukee has learned to trust its rookies and low-cost contributors who bring fresh energy and upside.
This shift in philosophy is a calculated risk but one that makes sense for a team trying to balance championship aspirations with long-term sustainability. The early returns suggest that the Bucks’ gamble on youth and athleticism over experience and reputation was the right call.
Jae Crowder’s strong start and quick setback underscore the Milwaukee Bucks’ logic in letting him walk. While his veteran presence and occasional shooting could be helpful, Milwaukee is thriving by embracing a new generation of players who fit better alongside their stars.
It’s still early in the season, but two games were enough to prove what many suspected: Crowder’s best days are behind him, and the Bucks are better off without him. For a team trying to maximize the prime years of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, banking on a veteran with declining health was a gamble the Milwaukee Bucks wisely chose not to take.
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