Adrian Griffin turns to young guys to fill the hole left by Jae Crowder

Can the Bucks' young players step up to fill the void created by Jae Crowder's absence?

© Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Milwaukee Bucks faithful received some deflating news on Monday after the team announced that veteran forward Jae Crowder will miss an estimated eight weeks due to a left groin injury that will need surgery to repair. Bucks coach Adrian Griffin remarked that although they will miss the things Crowder brings to the table, they must trudge on. Enter MarJon Beauchamp and Andre Jackson Jr.—two players that Griffin mentioned as potential replacements for Crowder in his absence.

Terrific on both sides

After a promising rookie campaign, Beauchamp entered his sophomore season brimming with confidence. Although his numbers are modest (7.0 points on 51 percent shooting and 2.3 rebounds in 17 minutes per game), Griffin praised him for his two-way play.

“I just think, starting with MarJon, he’s done a terrific job on both sides of the ball. Really pleased,” Griffin said.

“I’m a defense-first coach, so I just like his athleticism, his length. He can guard multiple positions. And then offensively, he’s more athletic than what people may think. He’s a strong player. He can get to the rim and finish above the rim, and then he’s a capable 3-point shooter.”

Competitive spirit

Former UConn star Andre Jackson Jr. is another player Griffin mentioned who can step into the role vacated by Crowder. A 6-foot-6 wingman with tremendous defensive chops, Jackson Jr., is a competitor who isn’t afraid of taking on tough defensive assignments.

“I love what I see out of ‘Dre. I think the most important thing with ‘Dre is his competitive spirit. He gets out there, and he flies around. He’s gonna make some rookie mistakes. Last game, he stepped out of bounds and stuff like that. So, there’s going to be a learning curve with him, but I feel good with him on the floor.”

Yeah I’m going to need for Griff to find a way to play Andre Jackson Jr more minutes on a regular basis. On a team that lacks perimeter defenders, he should be getting a real look. pic.twitter.com/nm43DPJzHW

— Bucks Breakdown (@Bucks_Breakdown) November 9, 2023

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