The first 13 games of the season were brutal for Milwaukee Bucks wing Gary Trent Jr. After failing to secure the multi-year contract he sought in the offseason, he joined a new team that stumbled out to a 4-9 start. To make matters worse, Trent Jr. found himself in one of the worst shooting slumps of his career.
Through those first 13 games, Trent Jr. shot a dismal 27.5 percent from three, making just 14 of his 51 attempts. Among the 114 players who took at least 50 threes during that span, he ranked 107th.
It was a start that not only tanked his confidence but also cost him his starting spot after seven games.
Despite the struggles, head coach Doc Rivers maintained trust in Trent Jr. as a shooter. That faith was soon rewarded.
Since November 17th, Trent Jr. has flipped the narrative, becoming the league’s hottest shooter. Among 152 players with at least 100 three-point attempts in that span, Trent Jr. leads the NBA, knocking down a staggering 50 percent of his shots from deep.
His resurgence was on full display Thursday night against the Miami Heat. Trent Jr. torched the Heat for seven threes on 10 attempts, tying the third-highest mark of his career and sparking a Bucks team fresh off an unexpected three-day layoff due to weather delays.
Let’s break down the film to see how Trent Jr. got hot against the Heat.
The Art of Transition Threes
The Bucks already boast one of the NBA’s most lethal transition finishers in Giannis Antetokounmpo. Now, they’ve added one of the league’s most dangerous transition shooters in Trent Jr.
According to NBA.com, Trent Jr. is making 40.6 percent of his three-point attempts within the first six seconds of the shot clock. While not all of these attempts come in traditional transition scenarios, the stat highlights his ability to capitalize on early offense and keep defenses scrambling.
Against Miami, two of his first-half threes came from transition opportunities.
The first came off a Heat turnover. Taurean Prince eventually corralled the loose ball and found Trent Jr. streaking down the left wing. With Bam Adebayo closing out weakly, Trent Jr. set his feet and drilled a triple.
Minutes later, Pat Connaughton grabbed a rebound, pushed the ball up the court, and cleared space by signaling Ryan Rollins to move out of the way. That created a lane for a pass to Trent Jr., who took one rhythm dribble and let it fly for his second three-pointer.
These plays illustrate how Milwaukee’s commitment to pushing the pace can maximize Trent Jr.’s skill set. His quick release and confidence in transition make him a nightmare for defenses that are still setting up.
Flashes of Pull-Up Shooting
While Trent Jr. is primarily a catch-and-shoot weapon, he’s shown he can create his own looks when needed. This season, 138 of his 177 three-point attempts have come without a dribble, but he’s quietly been effective off the bounce, converting 41 percent of his pull-up threes.
Connaughton brings the ball up the left side of the court before throwing it to Bobby Portis at the top of the key. Portis immeditiely turns to Trent Jr. to go into a dribble handoff motion. Trent Jr. comes off the screen, sees empty space in front of him and pulls the trigger for his third three of the first half. Yak Yak!
These moments are less frequent but add a valuable dimension to his game. They keep defenders honest and prevent him from being one-dimensional.
Bread and Butter
Trent Jr.’s real strength, however, lies in his catch-and-shoot ability. This skill is invaluable alongside Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, providing elite spacing and punishing defenses that collapse on Milwaukee’s stars.
Against Miami, four of his seven threes came via catch-and-shoot opportunities. Whether it was off ball movement or defensive lapses caused by the attention drawn to Antetokounmpo and Lillard, Trent Jr. capitalized repeatedly. His ability to relocate and stay ready makes him an ideal complementary piece in Milwaukee’s offense.
Much like the Bucks as a whole, Trent Jr. has engineered an impressive turnaround from a rocky start to the season. What once looked like a gamble for Milwaukee and a missed opportunity for Trent Jr. has transformed into a mutually beneficial success story. His elite shooting has re-established him as one of the league’s top floor spacers and given Milwaukee a vital piece in their pursuit of a championship.
This is exactly the opportunity Trent Jr. envisioned when he signed with the Bucks: a chance to rebuild his image on a competitive team, showcase his value on a national stage, and set himself up for a lucrative multi-year deal. But he’s done more than just salvage his season—he’s become a critical component of a Bucks offense built around Antetokounmpo and Lillard.
If Trent Jr. can sustain this level of performance, he won’t just rebuild his value; he’ll elevate it. Teams across the league will be watching closely as he helps Milwaukee push toward the postseason, knowing he can be a game-changer when paired with elite talent. For now, the Bucks will savor the fact that one of their early-season gambles has paid off in a big way.
At this rate, Trent Jr. isn’t just setting himself up for a bigger payday—he’s proving he can be a difference-maker for a team with championship aspirations.
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