AJ ‘Dairy Bird’ Green, the sharpshooter from Cedar Falls, Iowa, absolutely demolished a 25-year-old franchise record last season. He hit his 230th three to surge past Ray Allen’s 2001 mark, ultimately finishing with a staggering 232 threes for the season! That was one of the few truly great moments for fans watching games in April. Green definitely proved “He Got Game,” but the big question now is: what exactly does his role look like on this Bucks team moving forward?
Elite Shooting? Absolutely Lights Out
Forget the streaky moments, Green actually took a massive step forward in his production from behind the arc last season. He consistently puts himself in elite shooting company. He finished with the third-best three-point percentage among all players who launched 500 or more attempts, sitting only behind sharpshooters Jamal Murray and Kon Knueppel. Plus, his true-shooting percentage last year was a phenomenal 62.7%, ranking him ninth among guards who played at least 1500 minutes. This is serious efficiency, especially considering he was battling through an early-season shoulder injury and the general ineffectiveness of the Bucks’ offense. The man can absolutely shoot, and he can shoot with the best of ’em.
The Defensive Reality Check
Now for the honest truth, we gotta rip off that band-aid: Green is just not a great defender. Remember that three-guard lineup from 2025 with Green, Kevin Porter Jr., and Gary Trent Jr., when Dame was out with deep vein thrombosis? That unit coughed up a defensive rating of 116.5. Granted, the source says that number isn’t “terrible,” but it certainly wasn’t enough to be effective in the playoffs. Last season, those three-guard lineups often became almost impossible to watch. Green simply lacks the wingspan, foot speed, or general size to be a major factor on defense. Even in this era of “positionless” basketball, there’s a clear line between a player who could be an effective wing if they were a plus defender, and one with just great two-guard qualities to maximize.
For the Bucks, focused on potential contributions to a playoff team, Green’s fit for the future and his playoff value are one and the same. Given his defensive limitations and the major backcourt logjam, it’s reasonable to assume he’ll be coming off the bench this year and probably fighting hard for minutes. The path to more playing time? Continue being an absolute sniper from long distance and create more opportunities for those around him, especially if it helps take pressure off younger players. It’s on him to prove his undeniable shooting can outweigh the defensive struggles.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Brew Hoop.
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