Milwaukee Bucks

StaTuesday: Rookie Brogdon making mark due to versatility

Published Jan. 31, 2017 11:49 a.m. ET

Ryan Lund

Through 47 games, Milwaukee Bucks guard Malcolm Brogdon is averaging 9.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game.

Malcolm Brogdon is finally getting some recognition.

And not just for dunking on the champs.

A second-round pick of the Bucks last summer, Brogdon was named to the Young Stars Challenge last week and would be in the running for Rookie of the Year were it not for Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid.

But while Embiid is standing in the way of that prize, Brogdon is making his own mark thanks to his versatility.

Brogdon is the only second-round pick to have appeared in all of his team’s games this year, joining top picks like Brandon Ingram and Buddy Hield.

PLAYER	GAMES	GAMES STARTED
Brandon Ingram, LAL	50	14
Domantas Sabonis, OKC	48	48
Malcolm Delaney, ATL	48	0
Buddy Hield, NOP	48	28
Malcolm Brogdon, MIL	47	12
Marquese Chriss, PHO	47	40
Kris Dunn, MIN	47	6
Dorian Finney-Smith, DAL	46	29
Andrew Harrison, MEM	46	14

*Dorian Finney-Smith and Malcolm Delaney were not drafted

Brogdon is averaging 9.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.1 assists per game through 47 games, and would become just the sixth rookie in franchise history to average at least a 7/2/4 average if he can maintain that pace the rest of the way.

SEASON	PLAYER	POINTS	REBOUNDS	ASSISTS
1969-70	Kareem Abdul-Jabbar	28.8	14.5	4.1
2009-10	Brandon Jennings	15.5	3.4	5.7
2016-17	Malcolm Brogdon	9.2	2.7	4.1
1976-77	Quinn Buckner	8.6	3.3	4.7
2003-04	T.J. Ford	7.1	3.2	6.5
2007-08	Ramon Sessions	8.1	3.4	7.5

He’s not going to catch Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (whose transcendent rookie season is mind-boggling in this context), but Brogdon has become a crucial contributor for the Bucks despite his draft position.

When you dig down into the advanced stats his production is even more impressive.

Brogdon ranks 10th all-time amongst Bucks rookies with an offensive rating of 108, just one behind former Milwaukee star Ray Allen.

SEASON	PLAYER	ORtg
2013-14	Miroslav Raduljica	117
1994-95	Eric Mobley	116
1977-78	Marques Johnson	114
1979-80	Sidney Moncrief	113
2006-07	Lynn Greer	112
2005-06	Andrew Bogut	111
2011-12	Jon Leuer	111
1996-97	Ray Allen	109
1990-91	Steve Henson	109
2016-17	Malcolm Brogdon	108
1992-93	Lee Mayberry	108

ORtg aims to measure a player’s offensive production per 100 minutes.

For context, Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks with a 117 ORtg, while Brogdon ranks fifth.

RANK	PLAYER	ORtg
1	Giannis Antetokounmpo	117
2	Tony Snell	115
3	Jabari Parker	111
4	Greg Monroe	110
5	Malcolm Brogdon	108
6	John Henson	108

Brogdon has played 1,193 minutes so far this season, which is the most by a Bucks second-round draft pick in his rookie season since Luc Mbah a Moute had 2,114 minutes in 2008-09.

Needless to say, this is looking like a good pick by Milwaukee.