The most surprising player from each NBA team this season

Milwaukee Bucks: Malcolm Brogdon

College seniors can be undervalued in the NBA Draft. While younger players often have more upside to be molded, upperclassmen are closer to realizing their potential as basketball players. As a result, teams looking for stars at the top of the draft often aim high with potential. Malcolm Brogdon was an undervalued senior. With a solid 6-foot-5 frame and versatile offensive skills, he was overlooked because of the fact that he was already 23. Despite winning ACC Player of the Year honors, he slid to the second round of the draft before the Bucks selected him.

Brogdon has exceeded expectations in Milwaukee. Coach Jason Kidd opted to have Brogdon play point guard, and he’s provided steady play as a rookie. He averages 9.1 points, 4.1 assists, and 2.7 rebounds nightly with an impressive 41.7 3-point percentage. Defensively, Milwaukee emulates similar concepts to Virginia’s pack line defense and it has helped him play at a high level immediately. He has even earned 12 starts over Matthew Dellavedova. Not bad for a rookie second round pick.

The way Brogdon has played this season could potentially alter Milwaukee’s long term building plans. He is under contract for the next three seasons, Dellavedova the next four. With Giannis Antetokounmpo operating as the functional point guard in Milwaukee, the true point mostly has to play defense, run a limited amount of pick-and-roll, and make open looks. The two should be able to provide steady, if unspectacular play from the point guard position for the foreseeable future. The Bucks are in a good spot moving forward, and Malcolm Brogdon is a reason why.