Bucks believe rookies Malcolm Brogdon, Thon Maker can do the job
MILWAUKEE — Unusual as it is for an NBA playoff team to start one rookie, the Milwaukee Bucks start two — guard Malcolm Brogdon and forward center Thon Maker.
The Bucks are the first team to start two rookies in a playoff game since Golden State did it with Harrison Barnes and Festus Ezeli in the 2013 postseason. Brogdon and Thon are the 11th pair of rookie teammates to start in a playoff game since 1984-85. San Antonio's David Robinson and Sean Elliott were the most successful, going 6-4 in 1990.
Brogdon, a second-round pick at No. 36 overall in the 2016 draft, and Maker, a first-round pick at No. 10 last June, are contributing, too, with the Bucks up 2-1 against the Toronto Raptors in their best-of-7 series. Game 4 is Saturday (3 p.m. ET, TNT).
“Thon and Malcolm believe that they can do the job,” Milwaukee coach Jason Kidd said. “The guys on the floor and on the bench support them, and the coaching staff has done everything to prepare them for this moment. It’s up to them to be basketball players, and they’re very comfortable with doing that.
“We try to keep things simple and have fun with it, and they do all the work. Watching those two guys play right now is fun.”
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Brogdon, a strong rookie of the year candidate at 24 years old, is doing what he’s done since the beginning of the season. The Bucks found great value in the former Virginia star, who played four years in college. Against Toronto, he is averaging nine points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists and providing quality and physical defense against one of the best backcourts in the NBA.
Maker, who had 11 points, two rebounds and two assists, in Milwaukee’s 104-77 victory against Toronto on Thursday, is one of the surprise performers in the playoffs. Through the first two months of the season, Maker played in just 11 and had limited minutes when he wasn’t listed as a Did Not Play — Coach’s Decision.
But when forward Jabari Parker sustained a season-ending injury in early February, the Bucks coaching staff convened and Kidd determined Maker would move into the starting lineup.
The 20-year-old native of South Sudan entered the league with offensive potential, but it’s his defense that keeps him on the court. With Maker in the game against the Raptors in this series, the Bucks have allowed just 96.9 points per 100 possessions.
His presence — at 7-1, he’s tall and long and able to protect the rim – has prevented from getting easy looks at the basket.
With Brogdon and Maker on the court, the Bucks have scored 109.2 points and allowed 96.7 in the series.
“They’re two mature guys,” Bucks center Greg Monroe said. “They’ve been willing to learn and work extremely hard. They’re a big part of what we do.”
Give credit to the Bucks front office, led by general manager John Hammond, for selecting two rookies who could contribute during the playoffs, and Kidd and the coaching and player development staff for making sure Maker and Brogdon improved.
Their emergence illustrates a larger point, which reveals a promising future in Milwaukee. The combined years of service for the Milwaukee’s starting five is 10. The Raptors is 35, including 10 from All-Star guard Kyle Lowry.
The Bucks have a young, talented team.
“I’m a young coach,” said Kidd who was a starting point guard in the NBA four years ago. “So I think we all fit in with the experience level.”
