Brayden Burries hasn’t wasted any time carving out a role for the Milwaukee Bucks. In just three games as a starter, the rookie guard has turned rebounding into a calling card, and he’s doing it in a way that stands out across the league.
Through those three starts, Burries is pulling down 8.3 rebounds per game, which ranks second among all starting guards. Only Memphis’ Cedric Corward, at 8.8, is ahead of him.
That kind of production would be eye-catching from a veteran. From a rookie, it’s even more striking.
What makes Burries’ work on the glass pop is the way he gets there. He keeps sprinting toward the rim, whether the shot comes from him or a teammate.
There’s no coasting in his game, and that energy has been a welcome change for a Bucks team that struggled to rebound during the Doc Rivers era. At 6-foot-4, he’s still bringing real force to the paint.
The most impressive part might be what he’s doing on the offensive end. Burries is averaging four offensive rebounds per game, the top mark among starting guards by a wide margin. That hustle has helped both him and Tyler Herro land in the top eight in second-chance points across the NBA over the last three games, giving Milwaukee’s offense some extra life.
The Bucks haven’t exactly been stacking wins, but Burries has been one of the clear bright spots since moving into the starting lineup. Over those three games, he’s averaging 13 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 3.3 assists. His best performance so far came in an ugly loss to the Toronto Raptors, when he posted 21 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists.
With so many ball-dominant players around him, Burries isn’t going to score 21 every night. But even when the points don’t pile up, he’s found a way to matter by attacking the rim after every shot. If this keeps up, double-digit rebounds per game may not be far off.
In Other News...
Giannis To Milwaukee Suddenly Feels Back In Play
The Giannis Antetokounmpo conversation has a way of never really leaving Milwaukee, and DeMarcus Cousins helped stir it back up on FanDuel TV by floating the idea that the two-time MVP could wind up back with the Bucks after the season. For a fan base that has watched every twist in his career with a little extra attention, the timing matters. Giannis has not signed an extension with the Miami Heat, and with his long-term future still unsettled, any hint of movement is enough to get people talking again.
Miamis uneven stretch only adds to the intrigue, especially with the way the league has recently watched Damian Lillard return to Portland after a trade. The situations are hardly identical, but they serve as a reminder that star-player storylines can take unexpected turns once the dust settles. For Milwaukee, the idea is more than just idle speculation. It is a reminder that Giannis remains the rare kind of player whose next decision can reshape the entire league, including the city he once called home. [Read more 🡒]