The Milwaukee Bucks stayed unbeaten in the preseason Thursday night, defeating Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons by six points behind a flawless performance from AJ Green.
Green led the Bucks with a game-high 22 points on a perfect shooting night. He went 5-for-5 from 3-point range and 7-for-7 from the free-throw line, becoming one of three Milwaukee players to reach double figures and the only one to score more than 12 points.
The fourth-year guard continues to make a strong case for an expanded role this season. Green averaged a career-best 7.4 points per game last year off the bench and was one of the NBA’s most accurate shooters, hitting 42.7% from beyond the arc — good for 12th in the league. Teammate Taurean Prince finished third in the NBA at an astounding 43.9%
Although he isn’t expected to start for Milwaukee in 2025-26, Green could see increased minutes following the team’s offseason release of Damian Lillard. The Bucks’ roster now leans heavily toward frontcourt talent, featuring Giannis Antetokounmpo, Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, and Bobby Portis.
With that balance, Green has an opportunity to emerge as a key perimeter threat. He currently sits second on the depth chart at shooting guard behind Gary Trent Jr., but his shooting efficiency and confidence from deep may force head coach Doc Rivers to give him consistent rotation minutes.
The Bucks will look to continue their strong preseason form as they build chemistry ahead of the regular season, with Green quickly becoming one of their most dependable scoring options off the bench.