It’s summer — popsicles, beaches, campfires and summer love. As the heat rises, time slows and crushes develop. We’re leaning into that amorous mood this week at The Step Back, sharing our sophomore crushes. Last year may have given us an uninspiring rookie class, but we’re feeling pretty enamored with the future.
Entering the 2016 NBA Draft, Malcolm Brogdon felt like the kind of player the Spurs would draft. Brogdon was a four year player at the University of Virginia who dominated in his final season of eligibility. While his age limited his upside, it felt certain he would walk into the NBA as a solid contributor and stay that way for years.
But a funny thing happened during the draft — the Spurs passed on Brogdon at pick No. 29, which wasn’t crazy based on who was on the board. (The Spurs instead selected Dejounte Murray, who has brought some much needed athleticism and potential to an aging team). Unlike many other years where a player destined for the Spurs kept falling, however, Brogdon was off the board seven picks later to the Bucks.
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Then something crazy happened. At first, Brogdon did all he was expected to do. He emerged early in the season as Milwaukee’s backup point guard despite looking shaky in Summer League. As he got more comfortable, Brogdon became more than that. He had taken over the starting point guard role for a stretch by January. The job became permanently his by early March. He was hitting miracle shots to beat the Celtics in Boston in late March.
By the time the season ended, Brogdon wasn’t just another guy anymore. He was “The Prez.” The Rookie of the Year. Most importantly, he is now clearly one of the members of the young Bucks core.
One of the most fun parts about Brogdon’s emergence is how he did it. Unlike some young players, Brogdon’s game wasn’t built around a physical gift. While there were some unexpectedly fun dunks, Brogdon isn’t a super athlete. He lacks great lateral quickness and isn’t an explosive jumper. He is long but doesn’t possess an abnormally giant wingspan. There just isn’t anything about Brogdon the athlete that should allow him to be as successful as he is.
But that is where Brodgon the basketball player comes in. As could be expected out of a four year college player from a great program, Brogdon’s feel for the game is at an incredibly high level. It’s also what makes him so fun to watch.
The great feel shows itself in a few ways, but none is as fun as the chemistry Brogdon has developed with another mediocre athlete in Greg Monroe. As the two bench cogs early in the season, Brogdon and Monroe played together plenty and it showed. Plays like this became routine:
Brogdon senses the perfect time to cut — right as Robin Lopez turns his head — and finishes with a crafty reverse off the great pass from Monroe. Game after game the duo connected on these sorts of plays with either being fully capable of being the passer or finisher.
And it is the plays like that which makes Brodgon so exciting as a sophomore. Now established as a pretty good NBA player, Brodgon seems entrenched as the Bucks’ starting “point guard” for 2017.
It really means Brodgon handles the ball on the possessions where Giannis Antetokounmpo needs a break and plays off the ball the rest of the time. But it also means the chance to make fun cuts randomly when all the defense’s attention is on the Bucks star. Or the chance to knock down 40 percent of his 3-pointers again. Really it means the chance to do the things that just help NBA teams win, which is why he may be one of the safest bets to have a 10 year career out of this class despite the fact Brogdon’s ceiling isn’t as high as many of his peers.
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For a Bucks team with a superstar already in place, that means great things.
(h/t to Paul Headley at Behind the Buck Pass for the video)