NBA: Bronson Koenig makes perfect sense on the Milwaukee Bucks

Former Wisconsin Badgers guard Bronson Koenig signed a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Despite failing to hear his name called during the NBA Draft Thursday night, former Wisconsin Badgers men’s basketball star Bronson Koenig did not have to wait long for his dream to turn into a reality.

Shortly after the 60th pick was announced on Thursday, Bronson Koenig joined fellow former teammate Nigel Hayes in earning two-way deals with two different organizations. Hayes joined the New York Knicks, while Koenig stayed in his home state, making the official deal present on Friday and joining the Milwaukee Bucks.

Koenig passed Ben Brust last season with the Badgers for the all-time three point record at the University of Wisconsin and has been on the right side of countless clutch moments for the Badgers. Injuries appeared to slow down Koenig’s game towards the end of the year last year, but whenever he appeared to be down for the count- he came up big for a team that shocked the defending champions in the NCAA Tournament and were one heartbreaking moment away from an Elite Eight appearance.

Before the draft, the outspoken Koenig took his thoughts on himself to The Players’ Tribune with a piece entitle “Dear NBA GMs.” In this article, he makes it explicitly clear that he has much to offer, calling himself the best shooter in the NBA draft.

From The Players Tribune piece:

Dear NBA GMs,

I’m the best shooter in this year’s draft class.

Sincerely,

Bronson Koenig

Stats do not necessarily back up this claim if you are a person that goes by the book and only by the book. A career 39 percent three-point shooter, Koenig hovered around that mark his last two seasons with the Badgers but only posts a 41 percent overall shooting percentage.

Player like Malik Monk (45/40) and Luke Kennard (46/38), who could be argued as Koenig’s competition in this year’s draft when it comes to best shooter, posted those numbers (FG/3P%) from the field and three point line respectively.

But for those who watch the Badgers and are big believers of the eye test, it is understood that Koenig has the ability to shoot from anywhere, with anyone guarding him. Let’s take a look at a few examples:

Not only does it count to make the shot, but the ability to make the shot when needed the most is a unwritten asterisk that needs to be considered when talking about the top shooters in the game.

Moving on, Koenig was able to land a deal with the Milwaukee Bucks, which will likely include training camp and a summer league gig with a legitimate shot to make it on the NBA roster. Although rare an NBA team signs an undrafted player straight out of training camp to participate in the regular season- especially for a long period of time, Koenig has the tools and weapons needed for the up-and-coming Bucks.

If there is one thing Koenig can offer a team right away, it’s scoring- specifically a perimeter threat. The Bucks surprisingly ranked in the top ten in three-point percentage last year in the NBA, but again the eye test tells you that the biggest weakness the Bucks own is their outside threats- with only one real legitimate weapon in Khris Middleton.

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Despite technically being a top ten team when it comes to three-point shooting, Milwaukee ranked 24th in the league in threes attempted per game and 22nd in shots made from behind the arc. This tells you that there really is not a huge sample size and that top ten ranking is a little misleading. In the playoffs, the Bucks were second in three point percentage, but last in threes attempted. They need a guy who can become a volume shooter from behind the arc.

Enter Bronson Koenig.

Koenig led the Badgers in scoring last season, but also attempted the most shots and threes per game. This is not say the Bucks need or want someone to come in and shoot every time he touches the ball, yet Koenig offers the opportunity to bring in someone off the bench that can hit three straight triples and end a scoring drought.

There is a lot of summer ball and evaluations to be had, but do not be surprised if you see Koenig in a Bucks’ uniform longer than expected.