AJ Green discusses his rookie season with the Milwaukee Bucks and Wisconsin Herd
In a GSPN exclusive interview I caught up with Bucks two-way player AJ Green (plus newest Herd forward Alize Johnson) after Tuesday night’s Wisconsin Herd game.
The Wisconsin Herd fell to 5-12 in the 2023 G League regular season on Tuesday night as a team-wide shooting slump doomed their fourth quarter comeback attempt vs the Santa Cruz Warriors. The Herd shot 17.8% from deep as a team, making just 8 of their 45 looks from three.
Bucks two-way player AJ Green was not immune to the slump but found ways to contribute despite it, posting 13 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 2 steals in the loss. Green was 1/8 from 3 but 4/6 from 2, including a big-time put-back and this gorgeous mid-range bucket:
GSPN caught up with Green after the game for an interview covering his rookie year with both the Bucks and Herd, playing with Giannis, thoughts ahead of the NBA Trade Deadline, and what he’s proud of from his first season. Interview has been condensed for clarity.
Ti Windisch (TW): AJ, obviously a tough night shooting the ball for everybody. Seemed like there were some good looks, especially in the second half when the ball was moving more: how frustrating is it to play a good game, be close in the fourth quarter, but just not see anything go down?
AJ Green (AJG): It is tough. Because we did our job and executed our game plan fairly well and competed, put ourselves in good positions and had good looks and they just didn’t fall tonight. That happens in basketball. We’ll just try and learn from it.
TW: You’re playing a lot down here, played a lot with the Bucks earlier this season: what was that experience like as a rookie getting to go out there and play real rotational minutes with a contender in the NBA?
AJG: I think that was huge just to get those minutes, get a feel for what works and what doesn’t, what I need to work on to grow my game and build. So yeah, I was happy and I’ll take any minutes and any opportunity I can get.
TW: I hate to ask the what’s it like to play with Giannis question, but … what’s it like to play with Giannis?
AJG: As a shooter, it’s a blessing. He draws so much attention all the time that you’re going to have open shots, and he’s a great passer as well so he’s going to find you. It’s been a lot of fun, you know, just starting to build that feel with him on the court.
TW: The Herd acquired Alize Johnson who also can cause some havoc offensively in the paint, he was opening up some good looks [for shooters]. What’s it been like playing with him after the trade?
AJG: He, I think, compliments us well. Just his ability to rebound and push it, and he’s a great passer as well and knows how to create opportunities and shots for others so he’s fun to play with. He’s somebody who competes and plays super hard so we’ll always want that on the team.
TW: Tough stretch for you guys, five straight [Herd] losses tonight — what do you think is the key for this Herd team to bounce back and snap that losing streak next time out?
AJG: I think it’s just everybody doing their job and trying to do it to the best of their ability. We’ve gotten better at that, last game we put ourselves in good position and tonight we were right there as well. But just continuing to stay positive and proactive about what we can do to try and get back on track.
TW: NBA trade deadline coming up this week — is that in the back of your mind at all, you thinking about it, or are you just trying to completely ignore that and tune it out?
AJG: Yeah I haven’t really thought about it much. I think stuff like that you have no control over, so better off just focusing on what you can control and doing what you can do.
TW: Finally, one thing, between the Herd and the Bucks, your play this season or off the court, what are you most proud of about your rookie year in the NBA so far?
AJG: I’d like to say just my approach of always trying to learn and take advantage of the opportunities I can and just trying to star in my role. So that’s just something I’m going to continue to try and do and try and get better and better.
Alize Johnson, who the Herd acquired in a trade with the Austin Spurs on January 28, started off Wisconsin’s game against Santa Cruz red hot and ended with 14 points on 7/9 shooting (including 7/8 from 2), plus 11 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 block, and 1 steal. Johnson has played 76 NBA games in his career and brings excellent post play on the offensive end plus that big league experience the Herd are looking for.
Wisconsin is 0-5 since the trade, which saw Brandon Randolph and a 2023 first round pick sent to Austin, but Johnson remains excited about the move and the opportunity to play in the Bucks organization.
“I know there’s been a lot of success here for people who come through and the program, the environment, you know, I’ve been to minicamps and stuff with the Bucks so I know how they try to operate and do things,” Johnson said. “To get here, to be in this organization of winning, I’m excited and just want to be part of something special.”
One of Johnson’s NBA stops was with the Brooklyn Nets, where he played in the 2020-21 season and postseason — meaning he had a firsthand view of the legendary Bucks/Nets series.
“It was crazy,” Johnson said. “It came down to the wire, it was a really good environment to be in, me just getting to watch that every night with the best players — Giannis, KD, Kyrie, it goes on — we were at the highest level, playing the best basketball. To be in that series, for the Bucks to go ahead and win it all it shows you how hard it is to win in this league. Even in the G League — it’s hard to win games all over. [There are] a lot of competitive players, so you’ve got to bring it every night.”
Johnson and the Herd are back in action on Friday when they take on the Capital City Go-Go in Washington, DC. The Herd are on the road for the rest f the month, so fans hoping to see the team in person will have to wait until March 4 when they take on the Windy City Bulls in Oshkosh Arena.