It came as a bit of a surprise when Garrett Temple was called up to the Milwaukee Bucks from the NBA Development League's Erie BayHawks earlier this week considering the 6-foot-5 guard was averaging a rather quiet 13.4 points and shooting just 42 percent in the D-League this season.
In his Bucks debut on Wednesday night, however, he showed exactly why he was able to earn a 10-day contract with Milwaukee. In 18 minutes off the bench, Temple scored eight points, grabbed three rebounds and dished three assists while not turning the ball over and making two of his three attempts from beyond the arc. He also led the team with a +11 in the +/- category.
"He started picking up things instantly. We could tell right away, which was his reputation," head coach Scott Skiles told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel after the Bucks' 98-90 victory. "Plus there were some stoppages of play where we could get him organized a little bit and a couple guys were helping him as well. I'm sure he's excited. He had a big game."
Despite having only one practice with the team -- in which he played point guard -- he came through at the shooting guard position when he was called upon.
In the fourth quarter, with the Bucks trailing 78-71 with 7:53 left in the game, Temple hit a corner three-pointer that would ignite a 15-0 run which was capped off with another shot from beyond the arc in the corner of the court. This run turned the Bucks' 78-71 deficit into an 86-78 lead with 4:13 left on the game clock.
"I don't want to not take those shots," Temple said after the game. "I feel comfortable shooting that corner three, and I was able to knock a couple down."
It will be interesting to see if Temple's able to continue earning solid minutes with Milwaukee as most of his minutes came after Chris Douglas-Roberts left the game following a hard fall while driving to the basket in the second quarter. The fact that Corey Maggette picked up his third foul midway through the second quarter helped increase Temple's playing time.
If Skiles' comments after Wednesday's game were any indication, however, it seems as if the head coach will keep giving Temple chances to prove he belongs at the NBA level.
"He's a confident kid," Skiles said. "When those guys get called up, one of the things they can't do is be passive. If somebody is going to go down, you have to go down swinging. You have to go out there and play your game and he played very well. He earned a little more of a look and we'll see what happens going forward."
Official Claims White House Wasn't Involved In IRS Scandal
BuzzFeed Reporter Dies In Car Crash At Age 33
House Passes Major Anti-Abortion Bill
4 U.S. Soldiers Killed In Attack On Afghanistan Air Base
REPORTS: Patriots TE Questioned By Police In Murder Probe
Same-Sex Couples Face Significant Housing Discrimination, Historic Government Study Says
Google Is Using The First Amendment To Push Back Against The NSA
Huge Savings Predicted From Immigration Bill
Fineman: Bachmann's 'Got A Point' On Syria
U.S. To Start Talks With Taliban
WATCH: 'Daily Show' Skewers Evangelical's Claim That Gays Bully Christians
LOOK: Iran's New President Makes Important Statement In New Tweet
Mika Admits 'Hypocrisy' Over NSA Scandals
Walmart PAC's Political Spending Revealed
Hadiya Pendleton's Parents Discuss Addressing Chicago Gun Violence
PHOTO: Brazilian Officer Pepper-Sprays Female Protester In The Face
The Next City To Legalize Weed?
Bobby Jindal Has Had It With All The Self-Reflection That He Demanded
Cameron: WWII Bomb Found At G8 Summit
Senate: Don't Build The Danged Fence
Anti-War Bomber Says Obama Should Be Tried For War Crimes
Gang Of Eight Senators Shrug Off John Boehner
Funds Pour In For Hacker Who Helped Expose Steubenville Rapists
GOP Congressman: I Oppose Abortion Because Male Fetuses Masturbate
LOOK: Westboro's Chilling Response To Child's 'Lemonade For Peace' Sale
Trio Enslaved Mother And Daughter For 2 Years
GOP: Sick Leave For Me, None For Thee
'We Can Just F*cking Ignore Her'
Boehner Says Abortion Bill Won't Make GOP Unpopular With Women
Man Faces Felony Charge For Allegedly Sending Death Threat To Cruz
Mayors Urge Congress To Limit Food Stamp Use For Soda
