Malcolm Brogdon had some gripes with how his first free-agency stint took place with the Milwaukee Bucks, finally opting to play for the Indiana Pacers as a sign-and-trade facilitated his venture to a new team.
The fourth-year guard has thrived in his new role, averaging a well-rounded 18.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 7.6 assists through 26 games with the Pacers. The Virginia product compared the importance of his role in Indy to the one he had in Milwaukee for the past three years.
“This is, I think, something that every respected NBA player wants,” Brogdon said of his role with the Pacers, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic. “They want a team that they can call theirs, they want a team that they can still win at a high level, but they have the ball more in their hands and they control more of the game.”
Brogdon was keenly aware that his upside in Milwaukee was to be the third option behind Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton, while he had a chance to create a two-man tandem with Victor Oladipo in Indiana. While the latter still works his way from a torn quad injury, the 27-year-old Brogdon is making the most of his focal role, leading the team in scoring, ranking sixth in the league in assists, and helping the Pacers to a 20-10 record — good for sixth place in the East.
“It’s about a new opportunity, a new challenge, sort of being a leader of a team now,” said Brogdon. “It’s a totally different role, it’s a way bigger role for me, but it’s something I’ve been molded into and something I’ve prepared myself to do over the past three years.”
Brogdon has the skill set to be more than just a support player, but to be one of the pillars of an offense, due to his raw skills, work ethic, and an undeniable basketball IQ that has made him the youngest to join the 50-40-90 club last season.
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