Milwaukee Bucks: Why the Bucks have the best Big 3 in the NBA

Elite defensive prowess

There’s an old adage that says the last act of defense is securing the rebound. That being said, last season’s career-high of 6.2 rebounds per contest by Khris Middleton should not be overlooked. So far this season he is on the same pace, corralling 6.3 boards per night. While Middleton may never make his way onto an NBA All-Defensive team, he is certainly not a defensive liability. Opponents know they can’t be sloppy with the ball when he is assigned to them. For his career, he’s averaging 1.2 steals per game. Lose concentration for a moment and the Bucks will be headed the other way.

Jrue Holiday and Giannis Antetokounmpo on the other hand are not underrated defenders. They are both lauded for their defensive prowess. Holiday has been named to the NBA All-Defensive team twice in his career. Antetokounmpo is the reigning Defensive Player of the Year. Opposing head coaches know that their point guard will experience pressure from Holiday when they face the Bucks. They know that scoring at the rim will be that much more challenging with Giannis potentially rotating over for a highlight reel block. Simply put, Milwaukee’s Big Three gets it done on both sides of the ball night in and night out.

The term “Big Three” has been tossed around a lot in NBA circles for more than a decade. This season, Milwaukee’s trio of stars fits together better than any other trio in the NBA. The franchise has not backed down from stating they are in win-now mode. To support their three All-Stars, they’ve surrounded them with capable veterans who’ve embraced their roles. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Khris Middleton and Jrue Holiday have showered each other with praise in the media. They believe they have what it takes to get the job done. Now the only thing left is to get out there and do it.