Things might be starting to click for Bucks' Maker

By Dave Heller
Published

Welcome to the 2017-18 edition of the Young Bucks Tracker. This year, we're taking a different tact. With Milwaukee now having a G League franchise, the Wisconsin Herd, each Thursday we'll either track the progress of the players who might be of help to the Bucks in the future or a current member of the Milwaukee roster. We'll also give updates on the other young players from the previous week.

This is the 6th edition of the 2017-18 Young Bucks Tracker.



SPOTLIGHT ON …

Forward Thon Maker

Earlier this season, former NBA great Kevin Garnett tabbed Maker as a future MVP. While Maker certainly isn't near that level of play yet, he has shown improvement as the calendar flipped to 2018.

On Jan. 1 in Toronto, Maker scored 16 points, tying his season high, in 18 minutes, making 4 of 8 shots -- including 3 of 4 from 3 -- and all five of his free-throw attempts. Two days later in a home win over Indiana, he has 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting (making both of his 3 attempts) in 22 minutes.

While his usage percentage on the season is 13.0, over these two games it was 26.2. For comparison sake, Khris Middleton is third on the Bucks with a 24.7 usage percentage.

In addition, in the pair of contests Maker had a 69.3 true shooting percentage, 63.9 effective field-goal percentage, 13.8 total rebounding percentage, 4.0 block percentage and 123 offensive rating (note: Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks with a 120 offensive rating). Before the games against the Raptors, Maker's season numbers were: 48.0 true shooting percentage, 44.4 effective field-goal percentage, 11.9 total rebounding percentage, 3.7 block percentage and 97 offensive rating.

No one is saying to polish off any trophies yet, but perhaps something has "clicked" for Maker. It will be interesting to see how the next few weeks play out.

BUCKSHOTS

-- On Wednesday against Indiana, Giannis Antetokounmpo had 31 points, 10 rebounds and five assists. It was the 90th time in Bucks history that a player recorded 30+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists in a game, with Antetokounmpo having accomplished it 12 of those times. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar did it on 56 occasions but no other Milwaukee player had more than six such games (Terry Cummings). That was one of three double-doubles for Antetokounmpo last week, giving him 13 on the season.

-- Malcolm Brogdon shot 54.1 percent from the field and made all 10 of his free-throw attempts while averaging 13.1 points per game in Milwaukee's four games last week.

-- Top pick D.J. Wilson was sent to the Wisconsin Herd, where he had 15 points in 25 minutes in a home win Wednesday over Canton.

-- Joel Bolomboy, one of two players (along with Sean Kilpatrick) on a two-way contract, played one game with the Herd last week, at Canton on Dec. 30, and had 18 points and 10 rebounds

-- James Young made 11 of 14 shots in the win at Canton while Xavier Munford made 12 of 13 shots in the rematch in Wisconsin. Both players had 31 points.