The Wisconsin Herd have had a successful start to their inaugural season in the G-League. They currently sit at 6-3, and 4th in the Eastern Conference standings. The Herd were 6-1 at one point, but not before back-to-back single-digit losses to two of the top three teams in the East. The Lakeland Magic narrowly beat the Herd, 109-104, last weekend in Florida. And the league-leading Fort Wayne Mad Ants came out on top, 127-122, in the Herd’s last home game at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee.
This Friday, December 1st, the Wisconsin Herd make their true home debut at the Menominee Nation Arena in Oshkosh, WI. The Herd will host the Iowa Wolves, affiliate of the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday night at 7:00 p.m. The opening game in Oshkosh was meant to be played nearly a month ago, but was pushed back due to last minute finishing touches being made to the new arena. All Herd home games have been played in Milwaukee up to this point.
The headliner for the Herd so far this season has been James Young. The former Celtic was in training camp with the Bucks, but ultimately didn’t make the roster or nab a two-way contract. He has, however, flourished with the Herd.
Young is averaging 27.7 points per game, which leads the team and is good for second in the entire G League. He is shooting over 50% from the field, and 45% from 3pt. As a team, the Herd are dead last in three-point attempts per game (23.2) with James Young attempting almost 10 per game by himself.
Xavier Munford has been the second leading scorer, of guys who are signed to the Herd, at 24.8 points per game. In two games assigned to the G League Sterling Brown averaged 25.5 points, before being called back up to the Bucks. The Herd also made some noise by signing NBA veteran, and Sterling’s older brother, Shannon Brown.
Munford, who the Herd acquired in the preseason for a pair of draft picks, has proven to be a great addition. In the Herd’s first game as an organization, Munford scored a game-high 25 points, on 5-8 shooting from deep, including a game-winning three as time expired. He also poured in a career-high 31 points less than a week later in a road win over the Reno Bighorns.
Only five players have appeared in every game so far this season for the Herd. Three of the five, Kyle Casey, Michael Dunigan, and Jarvis Summers, were all taken by the Herd in the G League Expansion Draft back in August. JeQuan Lewis was in training camp with the Bucks’ before being signed by the Herd. And Brian Williams was brought in for training camp with the Herd, and ultimately impressed coaches and made the roster.
Both players on two-way contracts have appeared in more games with the Bucks than the Herd so far. Gary Payton II has played in six games with the Bucks, and only two with the Herd. Joel Bolomboy got minutes in four games for Milwaukee, and has played just one game with the G-League affiliate. These players are only eligible for a maximum of 45 days spent with the Bucks for the year, so chances are we’ll be seeing them with the Herd more often as the season continues.
It’s incredibly exciting to have two professional basketball teams in the state of Wisconsin, especially with the early success the Herd have enjoyed. Now that the new arena will be open in Oshkosh, I look forward to watching this organization continue to grow in their first season, and beyond.
