This season, the Milwaukee Bucks are 25-18 when Andre Jackson Jr. starts. Conversely, they’re 5-6 when doesn’t. Yet, Bucks head coach Doc Rivers has demoted the UConn alum, opting to bring him off the bench largely due to concerns about how he fits alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo:
“His numbers were not great, especially with Giannis on the floor,” Rivers says (h/t The Athletic’s Eric Nehm). “Those two together.”
Before tonight’s game, I asked Doc Rivers how Andre Jackson Jr. went from the starting lineup before the All-Star break to essentially out of the rotation after the All-Star break.
Rivers: pic.twitter.com/uUKedhKrJ5
— Eric Nehm (@eric_nehm) February 26, 2025
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Given Jackson’s limitations as a scorer, there’s some truth to Rivers’s assessment. The former second-round pick is averaging 3.7 points per game, taking just 1.3 3-point attempts per game. He’s been turnover-prone on cuts, making him even less of a factor offensively.
Bucks’ Andre Jackson Jr. In A House Of Mirrors
To be fair, Jackson is shooting 38.7 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s this season. In fact, he’s a career 37.9 percent 3-point shooter. With that being said, if given the green light to take more of those attempts, perhaps he’d be a more viable option.
Furthermore, the primary benefit of starting Jackson is that he has the best defense of any Bucks player whose name isn’t Giannis.
andre jackson jr’s defense vs the cavs
pic.twitter.com/fMUsmxaLhs
— evil freak (@bucksinfour) November 7, 2024
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He cuts off his opponent’s air at the point of attack. He reads passes well when he’s off-ball. At 6-foot-6, he even has a knack for making blocks in recovery or the open court.
Doc Rivers gave a shoutout to Andre Jackson Jr last night after the game in the locker room for his defense last night against The Miami Heat, here’s why: pic.twitter.com/GHW4satwrJ
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This didn’t just make them a better defensive team, it gave them another way to hide Damian Lillard at that end.
Now, the Bucks have to rely on Kyle Kuzma. Because he’s a more skilled and determined scorer than Jackson, Rivers may believe he can take more pressure off of Antetokounmpo, as well as take advantage of their two star’s gravity. Kuzma’s also an underrated cutter.
Nevertheless, he’s shooting 29.5 percent on catch-and-shoot 3s and 26.0 percent on pull-up 3s in 2024-25. Over the course of his career, he’s shot 33.3 percent from long-distance. Teams aren’t particularly worried about him hurting them beyond the arc. As a result, they’re more likely to sag off of him, shrinking the space in the paint.
That only hurts Antetokounmpo.
To that point, per NBA.com’s lineup data, Kuzma-Antetokounmpo lineups have an offensive rating of 111.5. Of note, the Los Angeles Clippers rank 20th in offensive rating (111.4) this season. That’s better than what they get from Jackson-Antetokounmpo lineups (110.5) but only just.
Still, Kuzma’s defense has been better than expected.
Kyle Kuzma stepped up in a big way last night and his defense was probably his best work.
https://t.co/MxqHydsx97 pic.twitter.com/F0tvzrSes5
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He’s developed a reputation of having lackadaisical tendencies but playing for a title-contender has seemingly motivated him.
Available For Offseason Trade?
After this season, Jackson will have two years left on his deal, with a team option in 2026-27. However, Kuzma will be under contract through 2026-27 as well, with no options.
As Gary Trent Jr. and Taurean Prince will be free agents in the summer, Jackson’s importance to the team could increase. Nonetheless, because of Rivers’s statements about his fit alongside Antetokounmpo, it’s possible that they’ll look to trade him in the offseason. At the very least, he should be available.
If so, there are a multitude of teams that should be interested in his services.
The Miami Heat have long been known for prioritizing players with high-level defense, even if there are offensive concerns. Houston Rockets head coach Ime Udoka is passionate about playing elite defense. The Philadelphia 76ers would get a player whose effort is never in question. The Dallas Mavericks might have to replace Dante Exum in the offseason.
To make it worth the Bucks’ while, all they might need is an offer that features a rotation-level point guard or 3-point threat.
© Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
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