Kyle Kuzma isn't the first player to crumble for the Milwaukee Bucks in the postseason. Fans likely remember how poorly Pat Connaughton played during the 2020 NBA Playoffs, only for him to have an incredible bounce-back story the following year during Milwaukee's title run. The Bucks need Kuzma to follow the same blueprint to make this experiment successful.
Bucks need Kuzma to take a page out of Connaughton's book
Connaughton had a series to forget against Miami in 2020, averaging three rebounds, 1.8 points, and 0.4 assists while shooting 28.6 percent from the floor and 14.3 percent from deep. He looked lost on the court, and Milwaukee Bucks fans wanted him gone after that series. It felt like there was simply no going back after how poorly he played. Yet, the Bucks kept him, and they are glad they did.
The following regular season, Connaughton had his most impactful season yet, averaging new career bests in several categories. Yet, the playoffs would be the ultimate judge, jury, and executioner, and he delivered. The wing was the only reserve consistently in the rotation, logging 23.7 minutes per game across 23 appearances, making the most of every minute he stepped on the floor.
He was flat-out marvelous in the NBA Finals, providing excellent defense, shooting, rebounding, scoring, and all-around versatility. What stood out the most was his outside shot, as he buried 15 triples across six games. During his five prior trips to the playoffs, which came out to 38 games, Connaughton buried 27 total 3-pointers. His impact was undeniable.
Just like Connaughton, the Milwaukee Bucks need Kuzma to go from arguably the lowest point of his NBA career to his highest. The situations are fairly comparable. The forward had a gruesome showing against Indiana this past season, averaging 5.8 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 0.8 assists. He played so poorly that he got benched in the most important point of the season, a do-or-die Game 5.
Fans want him gone. However, with each passing day, it appears more and more likely that he will get a shot at redemption.
The thing about Kuzma is that, on paper, he has everything the Milwaukee Bucks need. He's a lengthy, incredibly versatile forward who can defend multiple positions while scoring on the other end. He just fails to put the pieces together at times, missing shots at the rim or making risky passes that result in ugly turnovers. If he got these under control, he could be a needle-mover.
If he is indeed on the roster, time will tell if Kyle Kuzma can follow in Pat Connaughton's footsteps.
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