With three losses in their last four games, the Bucks are a little tough right now, mainly due to an infirmary that continues to fill up. But in the middle of the injured, there is a youngster who takes advantage of the opportunities available to him to shine: the rookie MarJon Beauchamp.
Two days ago, at the start of the second quarter of the Bucks vs. Hawks game in Milwaukee, MarJon Beauchamp helped Giannis Antetokounmpo intercept a ball from Jalen Johnson. He then went on the counterattack as the Freak ran up the field, before slamming a big one-handed dunk on a nice caviar from the best player in the world.
It was just one of the countless actions that make up an NBA basketball game, but it mostly represents a clearing of the fog that currently reigns in Milwaukee.
Giannis to MarJon Beauchamp! For #NBARoos
HAWKS/BUCKS is a 3 point game in Q2 on the NBA App
➡ https://t.co/1pomR04bRi pic.twitter.com/0N7WWm78As— NBA (@NBA) November 15, 2022
Like last season, the Bucks are not complete during these first weeks of regular play. Far from there. While Khris Middleton, Pat Connaughton and Joe Ingles have been on the sidelines since the resumption, others have joined the infirmary recently such as Jrue Holiday, Wesley Matthews and Grayson Allen. We even came close to disaster when Giannis’ ankle turned badly against the Hawks during the last game. In short, the physical glitches – even if they remain minor – are linked and unsurprisingly, the defeats too. If Milwaukee started its campaign with a perfect record of nine wins in nine games, the defeat counter has since been released with three losses in one week against Atlanta (twice) and San Antonio.
But despite these results, it is a week MarJon Beauchamp is unlikely to forget.
With the hecatomb of injuries currently affecting the 2021 champion, the rookie selected as the 24th choice of the last Draft has received a lot of minutes from his coach Mike Budenholzer (24 on average since the beginning of November, 4 starts in 7 games ), and did not miss the opportunity to shine well as it should: 19 points – 8 rebounds – 2 steals against the Thunder at 5/8 from 3-pointers on November 9, 20 points – 8 rebounds at 7/9 shooting against Atlanta on Monday night. This is called making a strong impression, so much so that some are already talking about “MarJon Mania” on the side of Cream City.
“He’s a guy who’s seizing his opportunity. He plays hard. We say we want competitors, guys who give their all with every possession, and that’s what he does. He plays with strength, he brings activity, energy, and plays without asking too many questions.
Sometimes it’s good to have youth and we like what it brings us. It’s a good thing among the many guys who are injured. »
– Mike Budenholzer, via The Athletic
Energy and activity is often what is expected of young players who have just arrived in the NBA. On the other hand, on the side of Milwaukee, we did not necessarily expect Beauchamp to drop performances at 20 points after barely a few weeks of competition. As a reminder, we are talking about a youngster of 22 years old who only came out at the end of the first round of the Draft. In other words, not really the player profile that quickly becomes apparent in a contender like the Bucks. Except that Marjon isn’t scared of the big stage that the NBA represents. He is fearless, he proves that he can already have a real impact on both sides of the field as soon as we call on him. And that is not given to all rookies.
We will see how his role will evolve once the infirmary is less full in Milwaukee. We will also see if Marjon is able to continue by then, because we know how hard it can be for a first-year player to be regular in the NBA. But regardless of the answer to these questions, Beauchamp has already managed to catch Mike Budenholzer’s eye. That alone is a big achievement for him.
“I know what it’s like to be in this position, to be a rookie and to have a good streak. The most important thing is to stay humble, it’s the main key to progress. I really believe in him. I believe in him today. And I believe in what he can become in five, seven or ten years. »
– Giannis Antetokounmpo
Homeless several times during his childhood and having passed through no less than four high schools before joining the university and finally the G League Ignite, MarJon Beauchamp knows how to meet the challenges. New proof today. And while outsider Grayson Allen is the subject of transfer rumors at the moment, we think that MarJon could – eventually – find a lasting place in Coach Bud’s rotation, even when the infirmary is empty.
Source statements: The Athletic