{"id":114719,"date":"2024-12-29T09:00:18","date_gmt":"2024-12-29T14:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=114719"},"modified":"2024-12-29T08:41:09","modified_gmt":"2024-12-29T13:41:09","slug":"ryan-rollins-rise-making-the-case-for-consistent-minutes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/29\/ryan-rollins-rise-making-the-case-for-consistent-minutes\/","title":{"rendered":"Ryan Rollins\u2019 Rise: Making the Case for Consistent Minutes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/rolliry01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ryan Rollins<\/a> has been making a strong case for consistent minutes in the Milwaukee Bucks\u2019 rotation. His recent performances have highlighted his scoring efficiency, defensive versatility, and overall impact. As <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/w\/wrighde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Delon Wright<\/a> continues to struggle, Rollins has emerged as a reliable option deserving of more playing time.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Ryan Rollins\u2019 Rise: Making the Case for Consistent Minutes<\/h2>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Overcoming Adversity: Rollins\u2019 Path to Impact<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Rollins\u2019 journey to becoming a key rotational piece for the Milwaukee Bucks has been anything but straightforward. Waived by the Washington Wizards in January 2024, he signed a two-way deal with the Bucks and made the most of his opportunities with the Wisconsin Herd. His hard work paid off earlier this season when <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lillada01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Damian Lillard<\/a> was placed in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/news\/bucks-damian-lillard-wont-play-tuesday-against-raptors-after-entering-concussion-protocol\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">NBA\u2019s concussion protocol<\/a>. Rather than relying on primary backup Delon Wright, head coach <a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/r\/riverdo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Doc Rivers<\/a> opted to give Rollins the nod in the starting lineup.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">In his first start, a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nba.com\/game\/tor-vs-mil-0022400005\/box-score\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">99-85 win over the Toronto Raptors<\/a>, Rollins showcased his two-way potential with a great performance, recording 12 points on 4-of-12 shooting (including 4-of-7 from three), five rebounds, five steals, and three assists in just 22 minutes. This game set the tone for what was to come.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Lillard\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/12\/28\/bucks-injury-update-damian-lillard\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">recent extended absence<\/a> allowed Rollins to start three consecutive games. Across those starts, he has averaged 9.7 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game, further solidifying his status as a valuable contributor.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"sr_share_wrap\" style=\"overflow: auto;\">\n<table id=\"\" class=\"sr_share\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; font-size: .83em; border: 1px sold #aaa; overflow: auto;\">\n<caption>\u00a0<\/caption>\n<colgroup>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col class=\"\" \/>\n<col class=\"\" \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/>\n<col \/><\/colgroup>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">Rk<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">Date<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\"><\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">Opp<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">Result<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">GS<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">MP<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">FG<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">FGA<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\" data-filter=\"1\" data-name=\"FG%\">FG%<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">3P<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">3PA<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\" data-filter=\"1\" data-name=\"3P%\">3P%<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">FT<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">FTA<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\" data-filter=\"1\" data-name=\"FT%\">FT%<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\" data-filter=\"1\" data-name=\"TS%\">TS%<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">TRB<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">AST<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">STL<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">BLK<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">TOV<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">PTS<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #ddd; border: 1px solid #aaa; padding: 2px;\" scope=\"col\">+\/-<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\" scope=\"row\">2<\/th>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/202412260MIL.html?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=Share&amp;utm_campaign=ShareTool\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2024-12-26<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/BRK\/2025.html?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=Share&amp;utm_campaign=ShareTool\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">BRK<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">L 105-111<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">*<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">29<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">3<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">7<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">.429<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">1<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">5<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">.200<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">0<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">0<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">.500<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">4<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">3<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">3<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">1<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">4<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">7<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">-12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\" scope=\"row\">3<\/th>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/202412230CHI.html?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=Share&amp;utm_campaign=ShareTool\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2024-12-23<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">@<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/CHI\/2025.html?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=Share&amp;utm_campaign=ShareTool\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">CHI<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">W 112-91<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">*<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">22<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">3<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">6<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">.500<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">2<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">3<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">.667<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">0<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">0<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">.667<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">5<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">1<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">2<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">1<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">2<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">8<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\" scope=\"row\">4<\/th>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/boxscores\/202412210MIL.html?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=Share&amp;utm_campaign=ShareTool\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2024-12-21<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\"><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/teams\/WAS\/2025.html?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=Share&amp;utm_campaign=ShareTool\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">WAS<\/a><\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">W 112-101<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">*<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">31<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">5<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">10<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">.500<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">2<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">5<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">.400<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">2<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">3<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">.667<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">.618<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">3<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">2<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">1<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">0<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">3<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">14<\/td>\n<td style=\"border: 1px solid #ccc; padding: 2px 3px 2px 2px;\">-10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><span style=\"font-size: 0.83em;\">Provided by <\/span><a  style=\"font-size: 0.83em;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.sports-reference.com\/sharing.html?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=Share&amp;utm_campaign=ShareTool\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stathead.com<\/a><span style=\"font-size: 0.83em;\">: <\/span><a  style=\"font-size: 0.83em;\" href=\"https:\/\/stathead.com\/basketball\/player-game-finder.cgi?utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=Share&amp;utm_campaign=ShareTool\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Found with Stathead. See Full Results.<\/a><br \/>\n<span style=\"font-size: 0.83em;\">Generated 12\/29\/2024.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Statistical Comparison: Rollins vs. Wright<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">The case for Rollins becomes even more compelling when comparing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statmuse.com\/nba\/ask\/ryan-rollins-stats-this-season\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">his contributions<\/a> to those of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statmuse.com\/nba\/ask\/delon-wright-stats-this-season\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Delon Wright<\/a>, the Bucks\u2019 current backup guard. Rollins significantly outpaces Wright in scoring efficiency, shooting an impressive 46.4% from three compared to Wright\u2019s 26.2%. Defensively, Rollins has demonstrated versatility with higher steals and blocks per game. His ability to contribute on both ends makes him a more balanced and impactful option.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Recent Performances: Rollins\u2019 Momentum<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Rollins\u2019 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.statmuse.com\/nba\/ask\/ryan-rollins-last-5-games\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">last five games<\/a> have been a showcase of his potential. In this stretch, Rollins averaged <\/span><span class=\"s2\">9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.0 steals<\/span><span class=\"s1\">, and shot 50% or more from the field in four of the five games. His ability to generate steals, disrupt opposing offenses, and contribute timely buckets highlights his readiness to play meaningful minutes.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Ryan Rollins Has Earned His Spot<\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Ryan Rollins continues to showcase qualities that elevate the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/10\/bucks-rotation-young-players-offer-hope\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_self\">Milwaukee Bucks\u2019 second unit<\/a>. Defensively, his ability to guard multiple positions and disrupt offenses with steals and blocks gives the team much-needed versatility. Offensively, Rollins provides a balanced skill set, offering reliable scoring and playmaking that complements his defensive efforts.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">What truly sets Rollins apart is his energy and hustle. His intensity on both ends of the floor has sparked the team during key stretches, creating momentum through timely defensive stops and transition plays. In contrast, Wright has struggled to bring the same consistent impact.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"p1\"><span class=\"s1\">Rollins\u2019 recent performances prove that his contributions go beyond just filling a temporary role. His versatility, balance, and effort make him an invaluable piece of the Bucks\u2019 rotation, one that deserves more opportunities moving forward.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Ryan Rollins has been making a strong case for consistent minutes in the Milwaukee Bucks\u2019 rotation. His recent performances have highlighted his scoring efficiency, defensive versatility, and overall impact. As Delon Wright continues to struggle, Rollins has emerged as a reliable option deserving of more playing time. Ryan Rollins\u2019 Rise: Making the Case for Consistent [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5312,"featured_media":114760,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1608,15,62],"tags":[187,661,190,4972],"class_list":["post-114719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-basketball","category-bucks","category-nba","tag-damian-lillard","tag-delon-wright","tag-doc-rivers","tag-ryan-rollins"],"modified_by":"Kenny Kluska","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114719","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5312"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=114719"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114719\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":114761,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/114719\/revisions\/114761"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/114760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=114719"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=114719"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=114719"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}