Even though the Milwaukee Bucks lost to the Los Angeles Clippers in their Summer League faceoff, rookie AJ Johnson still went off and played well on the court. As a result, fans of the franchise were left hyped due to his preseason performance.
The Bucks fell to Los Angeles with a score of 97-112 in their NBA Summer League matchup. Despite strong performances from two-way guard Ryan Rollins, who led all scorers with 24 points, and first-round pick AJ Johnson, who had 22 points, the Bucks could not overcome a double-digit deficit that the Clippers built in the second quarter.
MarJon Beauchamp, the Bucks’ 2021 first-round selection, struggled mightily, going 2-for-9 from the field with 6 points, 3 turnovers, and 5 fouls in 31 minutes of action. The Bucks’ coaching staff had initially planned to limit Beauchamp’s playing time, but with Bucks head coach Doc Rivers in attendance, they chose to give him extended minutes.
Milwaukee were able to cut the lead to five points in the third quarter, led by Rollins’ 10 points in the period. However, the Clippers ultimately pulled away in the fourth quarter to secure the double-digit victory. One notable injury came when Andre Jackson Jr. left the game in the first half with a bandaged finger, and he is unlikely to see further action in Summer League.
Milwaukee Bucks Rookie AJ Johnson Stands Out in NBA Summer League Match Against Los Angeles Clippers
Although Milwaukee lost to the Clippers, Johnson’s performance left fans hyped and hopeful for his future in the league. As seen in a photo the team’s official account posted on X, almost everyone was raving about the rookie.
Stuffed the stat sheet. pic.twitter.com/FfmHxulTX7
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) July 17, 2024
“KID. CAN. PLAY.” DeerMuse tweeted.
“bucks twitter suddenly switching up what happened to everybody being enraged when the bucks drafted him,” jelusku said.
“Can’t believe the bucks actually hit the nail,” Heavenly Buckets posted.
“Scored more in one game than Bronny all summer league 🤣,” Fies reacted.
“He’s gonna be nice bro,” Ghost shared.
Johnson, a 6’4″ guard, came from the NBL’s Illawarra Hawks. Despite limited playing time in his first professional season, the rookie showcased his potential with his size, athleticism, and ability to create his own shot, making him useful in certain circumstances. One recent example was when All-Star guard Damian Lillard carried a Bucks team without Giannis Antetokounmpo in Game 1 against the Indiana Pacers in their playoff series a couple of months ago.
There are still a couple of months left before the NBA returns later this year. If Johnson continues to play like he did against the Clippers, the Bucks won’t have any choice but to give him some minutes on the court or else fans will revolt.
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