Not a whole lot has gone right for the Milwaukee Bucks amid their horrendous 11-17 start. Even with all the chaos, Ryan Rollins has offered a tremendous silver lining by giving Milwaukee the best year of his career. A former Los Angeles Lakers guard has been a big part of his evolution.
Rollins has earned the largest role of his playing days in the NBA, averaging 31.6 minutes per game and starting 26 of the 28 games he's played. That comes with career highs across the board for the Bucks guard.
17.0 points per game, 4.0 rebounds per game, 5.9 assists per game, and 1.6 steals per game are all notable as the best marks of his time in the NBA. His fourth season has been special, and Rollins gave a shoutout to Rajon Rondo for helping him hit these heights in an interview with Michael Scotto.
"I’ve learned from Doc [Rivers], and Rajon Rondo is around a lot, too," Rollins told Scotto. "I’ve been learning the game from their perspectives, talking through the game with them, and learning. I think that’s been the biggest thing, along with getting these reps and experience."
Rajon Rondo’s tutelage is paying dividends for Ryan Rollins
Reading between the lines a bit here, Rollins went out of his way to bring up Rondo when the original question asked by Scotto had to do with Rivers. That much should not go unnoticed.
For those unaware, Rondo is serving as a coaching assistant with the Bucks this year. The former champion always stood out as a player whose post-playing career would take him to the sidelines at some point.
That is largely due to the tremendous basketball IQ that had always been on display throughout his NBA career. Rondo served as a perfect compliment to the Boston Celtics' Big Three. The well-traveled guard also molded himself into a much-needed role player for the Lakers upon arrival.
The three-time assist champion was always finding ways to be effective. There were a few more chaotic years in the middle of his career, but on the whole, Rondo was a smart and savvy NBA pro.
Rollins chose to stay in Milwaukee during this past offseason, signing a three-year, $12 million deal. It was a missed opportunity for the Lakers to pry away a great talent.
The decision to remain with the Bucks has been exactly what Rollins has needed on an individual level, though. After fighting to find his spot in the NBA early on in his career, the Bucks guard firmly has it locked down now.