Malcolm Brogdon returned to action for the Milwaukee Bucks last Wednesday, when the team defeated the Boston Celtics in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
In 16 minutes of action, he scored 10 points off the bench and had a positive impact for the Bucks, who advanced to the East Finals for the first time since 2001.
Pat Connaughton is happy for Brogdon despite returning as a reserve. He then said that it was a promotion for the 26-year-old guard, as he had the privilege to lead the team's ‘Bench Mob.'
When asked about welcoming Malcolm Brogdon to the Bucks’ second unit, Pat Connaughton had to cut into the question: “It’s not the second unit. It’s the ‘Bench Mob.’ Big difference there. One is a demotion, the other is a promotion!”
— Malika Andrews (@malika_andrews) May 11, 2019
Brogdon missed the first round of the playoffs and the Bucks' first four games against the Celtics because of a foot injury. However, he has made significant progress over the past couple of weeks. He was participating in warm-up drills during the first two games of the East semis and has also played three full-contact, 5-on-5 scrimmages over the last week — which eventually led to him being cleared to play.
The return of Brogdon will help the Bucks in a lot of ways. He averaged 15.6 points per game during the regular season, shooting better than 50 percent from the floor including 42.6 percent from beyond the arc. He provides key spacing around Giannis Antetokounmpo, helping open up the paint for the All-Star forward to operate.
Brogdon is also one of the team's best defenders, which means he will be able to stand his ground against some of the league's best guards.
It is unclear if Brogdon will be brought back into the starting line-up, as the Bucks' medical staff is still likely monitoring his progress. Nonetheless, once he's at full strength, he is expected to have a bigger impact on the team.
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