The Milwaukee Bucks are still a work in progress offensively, and their passing, or lack thereof, is a clear indication. Milwaukee currently ranks dead last in passes per contest with 248.6 this season. Kevin Porter Jr.'s absence after the Bucks cut him recently might be factoring into that, but young guard Kasparas Jakucioinis is doing his part to pick up the slack with his pristine passing attack.
Jakucionis is picking up where Porter left off
Prior to being waived, Porter was the most experienced point guard Milwaukee had on the roster. He was a crucial part of the offensive output last season, and his passing was a major reason why. Porter led the team in passes per game at 58.7, by far the most—Ryan Rollins was second at 51.1. Now, the passing game has been an afterthought in the early stages for the new-look Bucks.
One of the reasons Milwaukee waived Porter was because they wanted the young guards to take on more responsibility, and Kasparas Jakucionis has answered the call. The lone pure point guard on the entire roster, Jakucionis is averaging the most passes on the team at 35.2 per game, helping him log the third-most assists on average among Bucks players.
Averaging 4.2 assists, Jakucionis is already well above the 2.6 he tallied during his regular season. Whether he's dishing it to AJ Green for a 3-pointer or lobbing it up to Kel'el Ware at the rim, he knows exactly where to find his teammates, already looking wise beyond his years in just his second season. He alone can't propel Milwaukee's passing attack, but he's doing his part.
Jakucionis could be the prize of Giannis trade
Jakucionis' vision was one of the reasons he was a must-have in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade. He showed glimpses of potential during his rookie season with the Heat, and the Bucks have let him spread his wings even further early on. While Kel'el Ware might have something to say about this in time, Jakucionis is arguably the most potential-filled piece from the entire Giannis trade.
Once he gets his perimeter shooting in check, Jakucionis can reach an even greater level. Last year, he shot a blistering 42.3 percent from downtown. This year, that number is down to 23.1 percent. It is still very early in the season, so the guard still has plenty of time to find his footing. If he can pair this passing with a smooth outside shot, he could be one of the NBA's best reserves.
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