Despite being a 23-year-old thrown into the fire as a starter, Ryan Rollins has looked cool, calm, and collected in the clutch for the Milwaukee Bucks. Defined by the NBA as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score is within five points, clutch is when the game is hanging in the balance, and while many players falter in these spots, Rollins rises to the occasion.
Ryan Rollins' clutch play has been eye-popping
Rollins has played 40 clutch minutes across 10 games this season. In that timeframe, the point guard has tallied 27 clutch points, a team-high (Giannis has 22 in two fewer games). The production is great, but the efficiency has been exceptional. He's shooting 11-of-17 (64.7 percent) on clutch shots, which is the most efficient mark in the entire NBA among players to attempt at least 15 such shots.
Milwaukee's latest game, a tough loss against the Philadelphia 76ers, featured plenty of clutch plays from the ascending Bucks guard.
Down five at the five-minute mark in the fourth quarter, Rollins sped past V. J. Edgecombe and then finished over 6-foot-9 forward Dominick Barlow for a tough layup. Down three with two minutes to play, Rollins danced with Tyrese Maxey before yet another tough finish at the hoop. In OT, a steal led to a difficult finish over Quentin Grimes to make it a one-point game. Moments later, he got Barlow once more with a mid-range pull-up at the free-throw line.
The Milwaukee Bucks didn't get the win, but Ryan Rollins was undeniably a bright spot. Partially due to his clutch performance in the fourth quarter and overtime, the guard finished with a career-high tying 32 points and a new career-high 14 assists. This stellar performance bumped his season averages to 18.3 points and 5.9 assists while shooting 44.3 percent from long distance. Exceptional.
With Kevin Porter Jr. and Giannis Antetokounmpo injured, while other players like Gary Trent Jr. and Bobby Portis fall short of expectations, Rollins has been forced to step up. Things haven't been too good for the Bucks lately, but they'd be far worse without Rollins' contributions. He's holding up his end of the bargain. Now, it's time for someone (anyone, really) to step up and provide reinforcements.
Milwaukee Bucks fans knew they had a good player on their hands, but with everything Rollins has put on tape this season, they might have a star. He's still just 23, but he's playing in the clutch like a savvy veteran who's been doing this for years.
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