Bucks Zone

Bucks' comeback unsung hero AJ Green gets nod from Doc Rivers: "I believe in him"

AJ played a huge role in Milwaukee's late rally to win vs. Los Angeles.

Matthew Dugandzic

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While Damian Lillard, Bobby Portis and Patrick Beverley have taken the spotlight of the Milwaukee Bucks' marvelous 113-106 dub over the L.A. Clippers, AJ Green was meanwhile the undisputed unsung hero of the team's 15-point comeback.

As he was called up to play by head coach Doc Rivers, AJ didn't hesitate to get the most out of his on-court exposure. He poured six points, three assists, and two boards in 22 minutes, and he was on the court for the full 12-minute time of the fourth frame in which he helped the Bucks deliver a massive late rally by burying a deep trifecta with 3:35 left to shut the doors down for the trembled Clippers team.

Not afraid of the moment

In the postgame of their remarkable win, Doc had nothing but love and confidence for Green's readiness to step up when it mattered the most.

Despite any other options to insert for the crucial crunch time against the heavyweight Clippers team, Rivers opted to stick around the 24-year-old, and he didn't end up disappointed in this decision as AJ was tremendous in his role as a vital piece of the team's finishing touches.

"He's not scared of the moment," Rivers said. "You can see that. I thought because we were going to start posting (Portis and Lopez against the Clippers' smaller lineup), we needed another shooter out there. And that's why we put AJ in."

The development continues

Since Doc took over the franchise, AJ has seen his exposure and production gain a significant surge under the Bucks' mentor. In his 13 appearances thus far for Rivers, the second-year pro is averaging 6.8 points and 1.7 assists for 13.6 minutes of play.

"I believe in him, and I've shown that. Guys that can shoot like that affects the game. It's funny that when he walked out on the floor, you can hear the Clippers, "Shooter! Shooter! Shooter!" That's a good thing — even if he doesn't get shots. It means when we drive, someone's standing next to him, and it gives us spacing. What we've worked on the most is on the defensive end, and he's proven he's a fighter. He hung in there. I thought defensively he was fantastic tonight."

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Matthew Dugandzic
MATTHEW DUGANDZIC

Matthew finished his bachelor's degree in Economics (Management) at the University of Split and got his master's degree in the same field at the University of Zadar. Whether it is playing the game as an undersized 6'3'' power forward or simply watching it, Matthew can't get enough of it. After all, he has been an avid NBA fan since the 2000s. But don't get him wrong, as Matthew still loves the old-school NBA and is a true student of the game. From on-court moments to off-court stuff, whether it's about the stars of modern-day basketball or legends of the game, Matthew covers every category of the NBA world and basketball in general, as long as it makes for an engaging and exciting story.