The (Pre) Season is Here!

The NBA preseason is underway, and all teams have expanded their rosters to allow players without a permanent roster spot to showcase their skills and potentially make the team. Some of these players on the Bucks include NBA veteran Joel Anthony, Brandon Rush, and Kendall Marshall. Two of these players, Rashad Vaughn and Gary Payton II, have stood out from the rest in the first two preseason games of the year.

Vaughn, a third-year player from UNLV, has struggled at times during his two years on the team and needs to prove himself in the next couple of weeks to secure his spot in the rotation. He has averaged 17 PPG in the first two preseason games, which is the highest PPG total on the team thus far. Also, as far as I’m concerned, he has the played the hardest of any player trying to make the team. His basketball growth is clearly visible to us fans, and hopefully this will translate into positive, consistent contributions during the regular season.

Another player who has impressed at the start of the preseason is Gary Payton II (son of NBA Hall of Famer Gary Payton). After going undrafted in 2016, Payton earned a spot on the Bucks roster in April of this year (2017). He played 6 games for the Bucks last season averaging 3.3 PPG, 2.2 APG and 2.0 RPG. In the first two games of action this season he has put up some solid stats, averaging 11 PPG, 3.0 APG and 4.5 RPG. What is most noticeable about Payton’s game is that he is EXTREMELY athletic but lacks the fundamentals needed to contribute consistently. If he can manifest all of his talents this season, then I believe that there won’t be any problems getting him minutes.

It should be very interesting to see who does/does not make the team as the rest of the preseason plays out. I think I speak for all us when I say that it is very exciting to have NBA action once again. Here’s to a successful season Buck’s fans!