Milwaukee Bucks: 5 takeaways from 2017 NBA Summer League

By Josh Cornelissen | Jul 17, 2017

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 14: Bronson Koenig #24 of the Milwaukee Bucks passes the ball against the Utah Jazz during the 2017 Summer League on July 14, 2017 at Cox Pavillion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 9: D.J. Wilson #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2017 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

LAS VEGAS, NV – JULY 9: D.J. Wilson #5 of the Milwaukee Bucks handles the ball during the game against the Brooklyn Nets during the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League on July 9, 2017 at the Cox Pavilion in Las Vegas, Nevada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. D.J. Wilson belongs in the NBA

When Milwaukee pulled the trigger on the late blooming forward from Michigan, many draft pundits and fans were surprised to see D.J. Wilson selected so high in the first round. Expected to go in the late first round or early second, the Bucks used the 17th overall pick to bring him aboard.

With Las Vegas Summer League the first chance for most to see him play after the draft, the pressure was on for Wilson to prove himself worthy of the selection. While he was far from the most exciting part of Summer League, Wilson showed up and flashed potential for a talented rotation player down the road.

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The place where Wilson was most impressive was defensively, where he provided plenty of energy when he was on the court. He stayed active whether his man had the ball or not, moving his feet to cut off driving lanes and his hands to deflect passes. He totaled 11 combined steals and blocks over five games.

Wilson also showed off his passing vision, moving the ball and finding open shooters and cutters. On one play against the Los Angeles Clippers he attacked a closeout, drove into the paint and then whipped a pass out to an open corner shooter, who drained the bucket.

What didn’t show off so well was his shooting, which came and went throughout the contest. It’s obviously a small sample size, and Wilson has yet to fully immerse himself in the shooting development the team will provide. But for now that skill didn’t come ready made.

The stretch-4 also needs to add strength, as he continually found himself knocked around. Defensively he was long but unable to push offensive players off the block, and he fell back against drivers. Offensively he was even moved off his point when setting picks due to his lack of size and strength.

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Overall D.J. Wilson is a talented player with skills that fit perfectly in the modern NBA. He is also a 20-year-old kid who picked up basketball late and has work to do to become the player Milwaukee drafted him to be. But after his first professional play it’s clear he belongs in the NBA.

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