The Wisconsin Herd (5-1) extended their winning streak to three straight, claiming their first two games in the state of Wisconsin after four straight road games and moving into first place in the Central Division.
James Young (29 points) led the way as the Herd defeated the Windy City Bulls, 100-92, on Friday. For an encore, Young (40 points) recorded the first 40-point game in Herd history in a 132-125 victory over the Maine Red Claws on Saturday.
In their first season of existence, the high-scoring Herd have quickly established themselves as one of the must-watch teams in the NBA G League. The current roster boasts five players averaging 20+ points per game: James Young (26.8 ppg, 4 games played), Sterling Brown (25.5 ppg, 2 gp), Xavier Munford (25.0 ppg, 4 gp), Joel Bolomboy (21.0 ppg, 1 gp), and Gary Payton II (20.0 ppg, 2 gp).
Next up for the Herd:
• Tuesday, November 21, at Delaware 87ers
• Saturday, November 25, at Lakeland Magic
Herd Player of the Week
James Young
Sharp-shooter James Young has been electric over the past two games, scoring a team-high 29 points vs. Windy City and a season-high 40 points vs. Maine. The former first-round pick has displayed his sweet shooting stroke all season long, draining 54.7% of his shots and 40.6% of his threes in four games played.
On Friday night, Young took over the game in the 4th-quarter, hitting timely 3-pointers down the stretch and attacking the basket, getting to the line seemingly at will. The Bulls mounted a late rally, trimming what had been a 17-point deficit to just three, only to be thwarted time and again by Young's clutch shooting.
Saturday night, Young was simply unstoppable. He scored inside and outside, and almost didn't miss a single shot all game, draining 12 of 15 field goals (4-7 3PT) and 12 of 13 free throws on his way to a team season-high 40 points.
To top it off, Young was named the NBA G League Performer of the Week, the second straight week a member of the Herd has won the award (Xavier Munford last week).
Considering the high level he's playing at, and the fact that NBA teams will always have a need for perimeter players with his size (6'7") and shooting ability, it would not surprise me if James Young receives a Gatorade Call-Up in the near future.
James Young - Herd stats (4 games)
| PPG | FG% | FT% | REB | STL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J. Young | 26.8 | 54.7 | 77.4 | 6.3 | 1.3 |
Herd defend home turf
After starting their season with four straight road games, the Herd played in Wisconsin for the first time last weekend, hosting and defeating the Windy City Bulls on Friday and the Maine Red Claws on Saturday.The games were played at the BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, home of the Bucks, the first two of three games scheduled to be played in the venue while the Herd's long-term home in Oshkosh is being completed. The Herd's first game in Oshkosh is scheduled for December 1st.
Free tickets were available for Friday's game, and a crowd of over 4,100 people showed up. Saturday's game was closed to the public, with only family, friends, and staff in attendance.
Sterling Brown shines in Herd debut
The Bucks assigned Sterling Brown to the Herd prior to Friday's game versus the Windy City Bulls. Brown has played limited minutes in his rookie season in Milwaukee, and the Bucks are using their new minor league affiliate to get their young players playing time against high-level competition
The athletic Brown, a second-round pick out of SMU, has immediately assimilated himself and showcased his versatile offensive game for the Herd, scoring 25 points on 10 of 18 shooting (3-6 3PT), while adding four rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 32 minutes against the Bulls.
The 6'6" guard has been impressive in his short stint with the Herd, showing great anticipation on defense (3.5 steals per game) and an obvious knowledge of the offensive system. Brown has also shown a knack for putting the ball in the basket (25.5 points per game).
Sterling Brown - Herd stats (2 games)
The athletic Brown, a second-round pick out of SMU, has immediately assimilated himself and showcased his versatile offensive game for the Herd, scoring 25 points on 10 of 18 shooting (3-6 3PT), while adding four rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 32 minutes against the Bulls.
The 6'6" guard has been impressive in his short stint with the Herd, showing great anticipation on defense (3.5 steals per game) and an obvious knowledge of the offensive system. Brown has also shown a knack for putting the ball in the basket (25.5 points per game).
Sterling Brown - Herd stats (2 games)
| PPG | FG% | FT% | REB | STL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Brown | 25.5 | 48.6 | 100 | 4.5 | 3.0 |
Around the Herd
• The Herd were playing without three of their leading scorers: Xavier Munford (25.5 points per game), Gary Payton II (20 ppg), and Joel Bolomboy (21 ppg).• Xavier Munford has been selected to play for Team USA during the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019 Americas Qualifiers and is currently participating with that squad.
• Two-Way players Gary Payton II and Joel Bolomboy were up with the Bucks and unavailable for the Herd.
• Former Wisconsin Badger Vitto Brown, a 6'8" forward, is averaging 9.3 points (44% FG), and 5.7 rebounds per game this season (three games played).
• To fill Munford's roster spot, the Herd signed nine-year NBA vet Shannon Brown -- older brother of Bucks 2017 second-round draft pick Sterling Brown -- and he saw action right away, tallying two points, one rebound and one steal in 17 minutes on Friday night versus the Windy City Bulls.
• Cliff Alexander made his Herd debut over the weekend and immediately established a presence, scoring 16 points -- including this incredible and-1 alley-oop jam -- and grabbing nine rebounds in 23 minutes versus the Red Claws. Alexander, acquired via trade from the Long Island Nets in October, had been suspended the first five games of the season for violating the terms of the league’s Anti-Drug Program.
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