Midseason Report Cards for Every Milwaukee Bucks Player

After winning just 15 games a year ago, the Milwaukee Bucks have jelled as a cohesive unit in 2014-15 and, even without a real superstar, have put together an impressive run through the first half of the season.

And, in simplistic terms, that's exactly why they have been successful.

This team, perhaps more than any other in the league, has a collection of good players who are working together as a unit to achieve a common goal. They don't have a LeBron James or Stephen Curry, but they have been able to come together and remain relevant in the playoff picture.

Yet, some individuals have contributed more than others, which will be reflected as each player gets his midseason grade.

So, then, presented in alphabetical order, here are the report cards for each Bucks player as the season's halfway point approaches.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to improve with each passing game, and that's music to the ears of any Bucks fan. What makes that music even sweeter, though, is the fact that the Greek Freak still has plenty of growing to do.

To this point, the insanely athletic Antetokounmpo is averaging 11.8 points, 6.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 block while connecting on 50 percent of his field-goal attempts.

That latter number is up from the 41.4 percent he shot a season ago and is evidence that his shot selection and ability to finish at the rim are both improving. And while he still has yet to develop a respectable jump shot—he's hitting an appalling 25.7 percent of his jumpers this year—he has managed to improve noticeably in those other areas.

Still just 20 years old, Antetokounmpo has plenty of time to blossom into the all-around player the Bucks need him to be.

And if the first half of 2014-15 is a sign of things to come, fans should be excited.

Grade: A-

Jerryd Bayless

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Jerryd Bayless isn't putting up spectacular numbers, but no one should have expected him to. In fact, the veteran combo guard has become exactly what the team needs him to be: a spark plug off the bench.

While not a great scorer, Bayless can quickly hit double figures if his shot is falling. The 44.4 percent he's currently shooting from the field isn't anything to scoff at, especially when considering his 32.8 percent three-point field-goal percentage is dragging that overall number down a bit.

He's a scrappy player who will make the correct play more often than not. He also isn't afraid to get after it on defense, despite not being a lockdown defender by any means.

Bayless is one of those energy players who may not provide much in the way of a stat line but usually ends up providing positive minutes.

Grade: C+

Jared Dudley

Dave Tulis/Associated Press

Like Bayless, Jared Dudley wasn't expected to do much more than provide the Bucks with some shooting and a bit of scoring off the bench.

And, like Bayless again, he has done a serviceable job of filling that role.

Averaging 7.0 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists while shooting 47.0 percent from the floor, Dudley has been an efficient option on the second unit. 

He's not going to provide a whole lot outside of a handful of points here and there, but that doesn't mean he can't change the course of a game.

On Dec. 26 against the Atlanta Hawks, Dudley scored 24 points and did so by not missing a single one of his 10 field-goal attempts.

Performances like that are not the norm, but they do prove that Dudley is a valuable asset and has a role on this squad.

Grade: C+ 

John Henson

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

It's a bit perplexing that John Henson isn't seeing more minutes, but given Jason Kidd's frenetic substitutions and lineup changes, it's not all that surprising.

Still, the fact that Henson isn't playing more than 15.6 minutes per game is a bit alarming. When he's on the floor, it's clear that he has a ton of potential, especially as an interior defender and low-block presence on offense.

Despite not having a bulky frame, Henson makes his impact felt with his length on defense and soft touch around the rim on the offensive end. 

Per 36 minutes, he's averaging 13.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 3.9 blocks. Now, it's unrealistic to expect him to get that kind of run, but it's clear that when he is on the floor, good things happen.

Given that, Henson's grade here is probably a bit higher than some expect. However, if he played more minutes, his impact would certainly be more visible in the stat book.

Grade: B-

Ersan Ilyasova

Duane Burleson/Associated Press

When Ersan Ilyasova is healthy, he has the potential to be a game-changer. However, much like 2013-14, he has had difficulty staying on the floor through the first half of this season.

Appearing in just 22 games and averaging just 18.4 minutes, Ilyasova has still managed to put up relatively solid numbers during that time. The veteran stretch 4 is averaging 9.6 points and 3.9 rebounds while hitting 47.5 percent of his shot attempts.

And if he gets his touch back from behind the three-point line, he would become even deadlier.

But, in order for that to occur, he has to get healthy and stay that way. That may sound like an easy task, but for someone who has appeared in more than 60 games just twice in his six-year career, the odds aren't exactly in his favor.

For that reason alone, his grade is a bit lower than his play might suggest.

Grade: C 

Damien Inglis

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Damien Inglis may turn into a valuable player down the road, but after undergoing season-ending surgery earlier this month, he won't get the opportunity to prove that in 2014-15.

And, thus, it's impossible to grade the young Frenchman.

Grade: N/A

Brandon Knight

Kirsty Wigglesworth/Associated Press

No player on the Bucks' roster has been better than Brandon Knight, and no member of the team continues to improve as quickly as the 23-year-old point guard.

In this his fourth season, Knight is averaging 18.3 points, 5.1 assists and 4.2 rebounds while hitting 44.7 percent of his field-goal attempts, which is a measurable step up from a season ago where he shot just 42.2 percent.

Additionally, the young guard is knocking down 40.0 percent of his threes, which is his career high and best percentage from behind the three-point line since his rookie season.

While he still has room for improvement in terms of making mistakes—he's averaging 3.4 turnovers—and his ability to become a good facilitator, Knight is once again showing signs of improvement.

That's something he has done every year thus far, and it bodes well should the Bucks re-sign him when he becomes a free agent this summer.

Grade: A

Kendall Marshall

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Kendall Marshall is officially done for the year after recently tearing his ACL, but even prior to that, the third-year point guard hadn't been making much of an impact.

Like many other players on the roster, Marshall's playing time was sporadic, to say the least.

He appeared in just 28 games and averaged 14.9 minutes per game after playing nearly 30 for the Los Angeles Lakers last season. And, for a team that could have benefited from a good facilitator off the bench, that was slightly strange.

For whatever reason, Marshall was never able to get into the good graces of head coach Jason Kidd. And now, with Nate Wolters no longer on the roster, Marshall's injury impacts the team even more than most would have thought it would.

Given his performance a season ago, Marshall's shortened 2014-15 was a touch disappointing, even if a good portion of that was because of his lack of playing time.

Grade: C-

Kenyon Martin

Aaron Gash/Associated Press

The Bucks signing Kenyon Martin was surprising—mainly because he's 37 years old—but it shouldn't have been too shocking considering his longstanding friendship with Jason Kidd.

Now on his second 10-day contract, it's likely Martin will stick around for the remainder of the season, especially since the team is lacking depth on the interior.

And while the veteran hasn't seen many minutes to this point—and probably won't see a ton of action—having a seasoned pro on the roster who hustles, is willing to mix it up down low and can teach some of the younger guys a few things is always a huge asset.

For now, due to appearing in just four games so far, the jury is still out on K-Mart.

Grade: Incomplete

O.J. Mayo

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

O.J. Mayo appeared to get in shape over the summer and seemed to have a rekindled passion for the game when he took the floor for the start of the 2014-15. 

Now, halfway through, both things ring true.

However, neither has exactly translated to consistency on the court. And that is still what plagues Mayo and has prevented him from sticking as a major offensive weapon for the Bucks.

But really, that's what has plagued Mayo most of his entire career.

Still, when he's on the floor and firing on all cylinders like he has been lately—14.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 57.4 percent from the field and 61.9 percent from deep over his last five games—it's hard to deny his value.

If Mayo can hit his stride during the season's second half—and assuming the Bucks don't trade him—he will be a valuable asset in the team's push for the playoffs.

Grade: C

Khris Middleton

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Khris Middleton continues to be smooth and steady by producing consistent, efficient numbers.

The 6'7" guard-forward has seen a slight decline in his scoring from a season ago, but much of that is due to a decrease in minutes and the fact that he isn't putting up as many shots. Still, Middleton is averaging 10.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.7 assists and 1.5 steals while converting a respectable 44 percent of his field-goal attempts.

He's not a player who will wow you with his athleticism or explode for a 40-point evening, but he consistently provides the Bucks with scoring—whether in the starting lineup or off the bench—at a consistent, efficient clip.

Middleton likely won't ever play a starring role on this team, but his contributions and versatility make him an excellent piece to have.

Grade: B

Johnny O'Bryant

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Johnny O'Bryant didn't see any action until the injury to Jabari Parker, but since then he has started 15 of the 16 games he has appeared in.

It may seem strange then to see he's only averaging 12.3 minutes in those appearances.

Then again, oddities like that have been a major part of Kidd's coaching behavior and, in all honesty, have probably played a big role in the success of the Bucks to this point.

As for O'Bryant's play, it hasn't been great.

At 6'9", 256 pounds, O'Bryant possesses a big, bruising frame. The problem is that he rarely seems to put that frame to good use. In fact, 43 of his 66 shot attempts on the season have been jumpers. That's not something you want to see from someone of his stature.

Not only that, but if you watch him play, he just seems sluggish and lazy to an extent.

Hopefully, that changes, and he can contribute in a more positive manner, but as of now, he hasn't added much.

Grade: D+

Zaza Pachulia

Aaron Gash/Associated Press

With Larry Sanders having trouble staying on the court yet again, Zaza Pachulia has done his best to step forward and, as of late, take charge as the team's starting center.

The veteran from Georgia—the country—is seeing 23.0 minutes of playing time per game and posting averages of 7.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.2 assists while shooting 46.0 percent from the field. 

And since just after Christmas, he has been even better.

Since Dec. 26, Pachulia has been on a roll, posting averages of 10.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.2 steals while hitting 47.6 percent of his shots.

Sure, those aren't numbers that jump off the page, but they're respectable given that the 30-year-old is being forced into a role he really isn't suited for in the long term.

And, quite honestly, those numbers—both sets of them—are on par or better with the output Sanders was producing in the 27 games he saw.

At the halfway point, few on the Bucks' roster have been more important than Pachulia.

Grade: B

Jabari Parker

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Jabari Parker's season-ending ACL injury one was of the more depressing stories around the league during the season's first half.

The personable rookie didn't get off to the fantastic start that some may have expected, but he had a very solid run, averaging 12.3 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.7 assists while knocking down a superb 49.0 percent of his shot attempts.

Unfortunately, his career is now on hold.

Thankfully, a torn ACL is no longer something that is a guaranteed to significantly alter or derail someone's career. With some hard work, Parker can and, the optimist in me thinks, will get healthy in a hurry and return to form.

And if that form is what we saw during the brief glimpse of him and perhaps even beyond, he will still be the star many expected when he was drafted.

Grade: A-

Larry Sanders

Morry Gash/Associated Press

It's only midseason, but the downfall of Larry Sanders' career—which began more than a year ago—still seems to be plummeting with each passing day.

With the recent rumor from Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times that he wanted to quit playing basketball and, more recently, his 10-game suspension for once again violating the NBA's anti-drug program, things are not trending in the right direction for the once up-and-coming elite defender.

If fans are fed up with these antics, they have every right to be. 

And it would be one thing if Sanders was just failing to produce. But the problem stems from the fact that he cannot seem to stay healthy or out of trouble. That, coupled with his poor numbers and $11 million-per-year contract, makes it sting even more.

Unless something drastically changes and Sanders regains his motivation, it's unlikely he'll make any sort of impact for the Bucks during the remainder of the 2014-15 season.

Grade: F

All statistics courtesy of Basketball-Reference and current through Jan. 21.