The Milwaukee Bucks are 15-9, good for third place in the Eastern Conference. Last week, I wrote about three unbelievable stats from the Bucks’ first 20 games. Since then, Milwaukee is 3-1 and are 9-1 overall in their last 10 games. They have also improved to 10-0 when Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton, and Jrue Holiday all play. As impressive as this record is, there are three even more unbelievable stats from this week that bear mentioning.
15/15/2/2/2
What a stat line, huh? In the Bucks last game against the Miami Heat, Bobby Portis put up 19 points, 16 rebounds, three assists, two steals, and two blocks. Portis, who has been thrust into the starting lineup in the absence of Brook Lopez, has been filling the role better than many outside of Milwaukee expected. That 15/15/2/2/2 line? Portis became the first Bucks player since 1984 to put up those numbers in less than 30 minutes.
Four
Specifically, four 20-point games. To be even more specific, Pat Connaughton has four 20-point games this season, including a team-high 23 in the win against the Miami Heat. That may not sound like too big of a deal. After all, Patty C is having the best season of his career. What makes this stat amazing, though, is that in his first three seasons with the Bucks, Connaughton scored 20 points just twice. In 245 games.
Connaughton is averaging 12.3 points per game this season, by far the best mark of his career. Additionally, he is shooting 49/42/72, with the 42% three-point shooting being a career-high as well. If Connaughton keeps these shooting numbers up, he very well could be a legitimate candidate for Sixth Man of the Year.
27
The date of this writing is December 6, 2021, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 27th birthday. At 27 years of age, the savior of the Milwaukee Bucks franchise has accomplished more in his career than most Hall of Famers.
So far this season, Giannis is averaging 27.6 points, 11.8 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.1 steals, and 1.7 blocks per game. Along with Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, he is consistently talked about as a MVP candidate again this season. Some are even projecting him to win his second Defensive Player of the Year Award. And he just turned 27! There is no doubt: by the time Giannis’ career is over, he will be recognized as the greatest Bucks player of all time.
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