There was a time when Eric Bledsoe was considered one of the top up-and-coming point guards in the NBA. He was one of the top scorers at his position and was like a freight train in getting to the rim, which earned him the nickname “mini-LeBron.”
Of course, knee injuries ended up sabotaging Bledsoe's prime, as the floor general simply could not stay on the floor during his days with the Phoenix Suns.
Eventually, Bledsoe, who was unhappy with his situation in Phoenix, was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks last season in a move that was expected to potentially change the balance of power in the Eastern Conference.
That did not happen.
While Bledsoe certainly wasn't bad during his time with the Bucks last year, he wasn't great, either, as he looked a step slower and was thoroughly shredded by Boston Celtics backup guard Terry Rozier in the first round of the playoffs.
It looked like the end was drawing nearer for Bledsoe, as his averages dipped across the board and his ability to get to the free-throw line with regularity was beginning to disintegrate.
The only way for the 29-year-old to prolong his career would be to change how he played, and you know what? That is exactly what he has done this season.
Recognizing that he can no longer get by defenders and consistently draw contact at the rim, Bledsoe has had to subdue his offense this season, and it has resulted in Milwaukee boasting the best record in the league.
Now, to be fair, Bledsoe is obviously not the only reason why the Bucks are the NBA's top team, as Giannis Antetokounmpo is having an MVP-caliber season and Khris Middleton has been pretty good in his own right. But Bledsoe has represented a very reliable third option for Milwaukee all season long, and it starts with his mindset.
He almost certainly won't admit it, but Bledsoe appeared to lose his confidence last season, and it showed in the playoffs. It's entirely possible that he was having difficulty coming to the realization that he could no longer do what he once did on the court, and that has to hit hard.
This year, though, Bledsoe seems to be at peace with his physical decline, as evidenced by the fact that he is getting to the free-throw line just 2.8 times per game, by far his lowest mark since his third season in the NBA when he was a bench player for the Los Angeles Clippers.
As a result, the floor general has been able to stay fresher, and it has showed over the last two games as he has dropped 26 and 31 points, respectively, including a triple-double in the former contest.
Antetokounmpo may be the force that drives the Bucks, Middleton may be the team's second-best player and Nikola Mirotic may be the X-factor in terms of floor spreading, but make no mistake: Milwaukee is not going anywhere in the playoffs without Bledsoe.
Every team has that one player who isn't necessarily one of the top guys on the team but is the glue that makes everything stick. Like Draymond Green in Golden State. Or Serge Ibaka in Toronto. Or Marcus Smart in Boston. Heck, throw in Joe Ingles in Utah.
For the Bucks, Bledsoe is that guy. He is no longer elite on either end of the floor, but he is still solid on both sides of the ball, and his play is going to make all the difference for Milwaukee in the postseason and will likely determine just how far the Bucks go.
We know Giannis is going to show out, and Middleton will likely do his thing. What we don't know, however, is what type of effort we will get from Bledsoe.
If he plays anything like he did last playoffs when he basically shrunk under the pressure, the Bucks aren't going to the finals. They just don't have enough depth around Antetokounmpo to compromise for a potential struggling Bledsoe.
But if he is able to play like he has most of this season? Milwaukee is going to be very, very dangerous.
Sometimes, NBA players lose their athletic gifts and can no longer be effective as a result. Last year, it seemed like Bledsoe was following that trend. But this season, he has bucked it and is playing some of the most sound, fundamental basketball he has ever played.
He may no longer have the ability to be the best player on the court, but he certainly has an impact on the game overall.
If the Bucks want to have a shot at the finals, they need Bledsoe, and it looks like he is ready for the challenge.
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