Despite the painful 54-point loss in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals against the Chicago Bulls, The heartbreaking loss doesn’t overshadow how great the Milwaukee Bucks’ season was.
Winning 41 games this season from just 15 the previous year, the Bucks are finally an exciting team with their unlimited potential. With key franchise players such as Giannis Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams and Jabari Parker, the team can only get better.
Before we move on to what lies ahead for the team, it’s time to take a look back at this miraculous season and grade how each player performed over the course of the year. However, Tyler Ennis, Jorge Gutierrez, Damien Inglis, Johnny O’Bryant III, Jabari Parker and Miles Plumlee will not be given grades because they didn’t play enough minutes to receive a fair grade based on their play.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Grade: A
After getting plenty of playing time during his rookie season, the Greek Freak showed everyone how much he has improved after just one season. Antetokounmpo nearly doubled his average points per game total and really started to take on a leadership role for this young team. He looked a lot more confident in his abilities and it showed on the basketball court. If Antetokounmpo can continue to develop his game, especially his jump-shot, he could be one of the best players to ever wear a Milwaukee Bucks jersey.
Jerryd Bayless
Grade: B
Bayless played in 77 of the Bucks’ 82 games this season and was one of the most reliable players on the team. One of the leaders of Milwaukee’s great bench depth, Bayless was able to play in any role head coach Jason Kidd asked of him. Even with the Brandon Knight/Michael Carter-Williams trade resulting in a slump for the team, Bayless was one of the more consistent players on a revamped back court.
Michael Carter-Williams
Grade: B+
Speaking of the Brandon Knight/Michael Carter-Williams trade, the Bucks took a big gamble to acquire Carter-Williams from the Philadelphia 76ers. While he wasn’t always the most consistent player and still lacks a good jump-shot, Carter-Williams really impressed in some games and played well against Derrick Rose in the playoffs. With a play style incredibly similar to his coach’s, Kidd could make Carter-Williams into a future NBA All-Star.
Jared Dudley
Grade: B
With a team so focused on young talent, it was a breath of fresh air to see a veteran leader like Dudley on the court. Even with a history of injuries, Dudley is still the ideal role player. A sharp-shooter from 3-point range, Dudley was often an X-factor in games. Most importantly, Dudley was a great mentor to the younger players on the team. Any time you can find a solid role player who is on board with the direction of the franchise, you have a match made in heaven.
John Henson
Grade: C
With the departure of Larry Sanders from the Bucks, I really believed this was Henson’s time to shine. However, while he played well, his game didn’t ascend to the next level with the added minutes. Henson continued to be a great defensive player, but he couldn’t score or rebound consistent enough to find his way into the starting lineup. This was only Henson’s third year in the NBA, so he still has room for much more improvement.
Ersan Ilyasova
Grade: C+
Ilyasova started this season having to adapt to coming off of the bench to make room for Parker. While it was a different change of pace for him, Ilyasova accepted his new role and continued to do what he has done for years. However, there are also some signs of concern in that. While I think Ilyasova is a good player and a good fit for the Bucks, he is also an inconsistent player who hasn’t progressed too much in recent years. Despite this, Ilyasova still had some great games this season.
O.J. Mayo
Grade: B-
During last season’s tragedy, Mayo lacked any real intensity on the court and was out of shape as far as NBA standards go. Mayo came into this season looking incredibly fit and showed intensity on both sides of the ball. Wouldn’t you know it, that intensity carried on throughout the entire season. Mayo wasn’t given too many moments to shine this season but every now and then he would show why he’s one of the most dynamic scorers in the league. Mayo could continue to be a great role player for this exciting team if he decides to stay in Milwaukee.
Khris Middleton
Grade: B
I’m still not sure how I feel about Middleton. On one hand, he is one of the best shooters and scorers on the Bucks at just 23 years old. On the other hand, he is nowhere near consistent enough to be the scoring leader or possibly even starter for the Milwaukee Bucks. In some games, he just seems to be non-existent, only scoring a few points. While in other games, he’ll put on a shooting display for 25 or 30 points. I’m curious to see how Middleton grows in his NBA career, but for now, he’s far from perfect. In terms of developing his game; however, Middleton had much better season than he did last year.
Zaza Pachulia
Grade: A
The unsung hero of the Milwaukee Bucks, Pachulia brought his unique skill-set to Milwaukee and played his heart out each night. The Bucks could always count on Pachulia to do what they asked of him. Stepping up in the starting center role for the team, Pachulia was often a double-double machine as well as being one of the best passers for Milwaukee. The Bucks wouldn’t have had the success they had if it wasn’t for the play of Pachulia.
The Milwaukee Bucks took fans on an incredible ride this season. Climbing to .500 just after a 15 win season is impressive enough, but to keep fighting for two wins against the Bulls after being down 3-0 shows the pride and heart of this young team. The best part is, this is just the beginning. The Bucks are going through a complete overhaul as a franchise, and they are the most exciting to watch than they have been in many, many years.
