The Milwaukee Bucks have won the 2024 NBA Cup on the shoulders 26 points, 19 rebounds, and 10 assists from Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Greek Freak also added two steals and three blocks in a performance that earned him the NBA Cup MVP Award.
Even though the victory did not count towards their regular season total, the 14-11 Bucks knocking off the 20-5 Oklahoma City Thunder, the top seeded team in the NBA Western Conference, is just one more indicator that the team has turned it around after starting the season 2-8.
Of course, Giannis has been a key factor to the Bucks’ success over the last few weeks, and his averaging 32.7 points (the top mark in the NBA), 11.5 rebounds, and 6.1 assists.
Down in the G-League, though, another Wisconsin star player is putting up some gaudy numbers as well.
Henry Ellenson Is Dominating for the Milwaukee Bucks G-League Team, the Wisconsin Herd
Many Bucks fans, especially those that live in Wisconsin, may remember Henry Ellenson as one of the best high school basketball players in the state during the early 2010’s. He went to college at Marquette and averaged 17.0 points, 9.7 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 blocks per game in his only season with the Golden Eagles before he entered the NBA Draft.
Fast forward nearly 10 years and Ellenson is back in Wisconsin after five seasons in the NBA and two spent playing in Europe.
A member of the Wisconsin Herd, the Bucks’ NBA G-League affiliate, Ellenson is currently averaging 19.3 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game. He is shooting 53.2% from the floor overall and 36.8% from three.
However, it is what he has done in the Herds’ last three games that has many fans turning their heads.
Over those last three contests, Ellenson is averaging 33.7 points and 13 rebounds. He is also shooting a blistering 55% from three.
If he keeps playing like that, Ellenson could find himself on an NBA roster soon, whether it be in Milwaukee or elsewhere.
Henry Ellenson Had Quite the Journey that Led to the Milwaukee Bucks Organization
After playing just one year at Marquette, Ellenson was drafted in the first round (18th overall pick) of the 2016 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. He only spent two and a half seasons in Detroit, though, and averaged 3.8 points and 2.2 rebounds during that time.
Detroit waived Ellenson partway through the 2018-19 season, but he signed with the New York Knicks shortly after. In 17 games with the Knicks that year, he averaged 6.0 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.
The following season, Ellenson appeared in five games with the Brooklyn Nets, but was waived in January of 2020.
The 2020-21 season saw the Rice Lake, Wisconsin native appear in two games for the Toronto Raptors. He averaged 7.5 points and 6.0 rebounds in those games, but was waived again.
Ellenson then headed abroad to play professionally in Spain. In 2021-22, he played for Monbus Obradoiro and averaged 11.1 points and 4.9 rebounds.
In 2022-23, he played for Joventut in the EuroCup and average 10.3 points and 4.3 rebounds. He remained with Joventut for the Spanish Liga Endesa season, and averaged 10.4 points and 5.0 rebounds.
Earlier this year, he signed an Exhibit-10 contract with the Minnesota Timberwolves, but was released. That led him to being signed by the Wisconsin Herd, which of course brought him back home.
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