Ryan Rollins has taken one of the most impressive scoring leaps in the entire league this season, but the Milwaukee Bucks guard still has more heights to reach. One of the guard's weaknesses this year has been his lack of getting to the free throw line to get a few extra points on the board. If he can get more foul shots consistently, his production will only increase.
Rollins has clear next goal to continue offensive rise with Bucks
On the season, Rollins is averaging 17.2 points per game despite getting just 2.1 free throw attempts per matchup. Among all players across the NBA averaging at least 17 points, Rollins ranks second-to- last in foul shots per game, trailing only Boston's Payton Pritchard at two on average. In the blink of an eye, Rollins could find himself dead last in this category sooner or later.
To a degree, Rollins' placement in this ranking is admirable. It shows that he can still be productive in games when he's not getting to the line. Unlike plenty of guards around the NBA, Rollins isn't going into drives looking for fouls and flailing his limbs at the slightest bit of contact. He plays hard and goes through contact, often converting tough buckets.
Of course, Rollins also doesn't have the whistle that a lot of those big-name players have. While he's on the rise, the guard is still not a household name. Right or wrong, the officials take note of that.
Rollins absolutely should not start foul-baiting to up his free throw attempts, but it would make plenty of sense for him to be even more aggressive with some of his drives. Among players to attempt at least 100 drives this season, Rollins ranks sixth in passes in those situations. There is nothing wrong with driving and kicking, but if Rollins has a look, perhaps he could go for an aggressive take.
If Rollins can start getting to the line more, he could become an incredibly efficient 20-point-per-game scoring threat. He's already an electric perimeter shooter (top five in the NBA among players to try at least 300 triples this season), his mid-range has been smooth as well, and he can convert down low when he puts his head down. Getting to the line more is the next step in his offensive evolution.
One of the best young Bucks has a chance to get even better for Milwaukee.
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