Lost in Ryan Rollins' hot start is that the Milwaukee Bucks guard is racking up deflections at a near league-leading level. The youngster currently sits at second in the NBA in total deflections, and he's surrounded by good company. If Rollins can firmly stay high on this list and potentially even surpass the current leader, his defensive reputation will only continue to grow.
Rollins is picking up deflections with the best of them
Let's break down the total deflection leaders this season. Dyson Daniels: 46. Ryan Rollins: 42. Ausar Thompson: 41. Cason Wallace: 40. Scottie Barnes: 37. Stephon Castle: 34. Toumani Camara: 34. What do all of these players have in common? They're all either already elite on the defensive end or well on their way there.
Daniels was an All-Defensive honoree and finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting last season. Ausar Thompson, in just his third season, is already emerging as a defensive ace. Wallace just helped OKC win a title with versatility. Barnes is arguably one of the most all-around defenders in the game. Castle, the Rookie of the Year, is on the rise. Camara is bound to be elite for years to come.
Ryan Rollins couldn't ask for better company. Soon, he will have the same recognition they do.
In addition to just having good defensive instincts, one distinctive factor helping Rollins take home so many steals is his lengthy wingspan. At 6-foot-4, the point guard's 6-foot-9.75 wingspan allows him to disrupt passing lanes from a distance and generate steals. He's averaging 1.9 steals per game, which is a team-high and one of the highest marks in the NBA. Not bad.
Between the deflections, the steals, and the overall hard-nosed defense, Rollins has drawn his share of comparisons to Eric Bledsoe and Jrue Holiday. In turn, the Milwaukee Bucks have looked more like the defensive-minded team they were when those two were in town compared to how they shifted away from that in recent years. There is work to do, but it's good to be back.
It's still too early, but if the season ended today, it would be hard to keep Rollins off an All-Defensive team. He's been playing at an elite level, not shying away from taking on some of the most difficult names in the sport despite his inexperience. The Milwaukee Bucks have loved every second of it, and they need him to keep his foot on the gas.
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