Milwaukee Bucks: Is Ersan Ilyasova the Next Great Story in the NBA?

After watching Jeremy Lin take advantage of an opportunity given to him by head coach Mike D’Antoni of the New York Knicks in a span of two weeks, could there be another player in the Eastern Conference waiting in line to take the league by surprise?

That very player flying under the radar in the Eastern Conference is none other than Ersan Ilyasova of the Milwaukee Bucks. The Turkish forward, who in his second stint with the Milwaukee Bucks has been getting more playing time due to the loss of starting center Andrew Bogut, has been playing very well for head coach Scott Skiles.

The Bucks drafted him in the second round of the 2005 NBA draft and much of his rookie season was spent playing in the D-League. Ilyasova took a break from the NBA and chose to play basketball in Europe with FC Barcelona where he was able to improve his game. However, the Bucks brought Ilyasova back and he has found himself a nice role with the team.

Ilyasova has posted four double-doubles so far this season while also coming close to posting many more. He has been averaging 9.4 points to go along with 7.9 rebounds per game through 29 games this NBA season and could only get better.

Ilyasova is in his fourth year with the Bucks and entering the final year of his contract. Ilyasova has been playing closer to the basket and has become a better offensive and defensive rebounder while also being a legitimate three-point shooting threat.

On Sunday, Ilyasova posted career-highs in points (with 29) and in rebounds (with 25) against the New Jersey Nets on the road in a game that the Bucks did not have both Bogut and veteran Drew Gooden (wrist injury) available. The Bucks were also able to snap a four-game losing streak and gain some momentum heading into Monday’s home game versus the Orlando Magic.

It will be interesting to see what the Bucks will do with Ilyasova who could be a possible trade target as the trade deadline approaches.