MILWAUKEE -- With the game tied at 93 against the Boston Celtics, Bucks coach Jason Kidd surprised almost everyone by turning to rookie guard Malcolm Brogdon on six straight offensive possessions to end the game. Brogdon delivered with six clutch points and two assists in the closing three minutes of the game.

Malcolm Brogdon of House Bucks lays claim to The Throne!!#OwnTheFuture pic.twitter.com/y1aRtCxQUG — Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) March 30, 2017

The one person not surprised? Giannis Antetokounmpo.

It started last Friday, when the Bucks beat the Atlanta Hawks 100-97. Down the stretch, the Bucks turned to Brogdon and Greg Monroe late in the game when they needed a bucket, despite Antetokounmpo already tallying 34 points on the night. After the game, Kidd explained that Antetokounmpo wasn’t at all upset about not getting the ball late.

“I think you’re seeing a 22-year-old grow up extremely fast and really understand the game,” Kidd said. “Knowing we play through him a lot and if you paid attention tonight, he was actually telling us to play through the other guys, which is kind of cool.”

“In this league, to be unselfish, good things can happen. I thought he was doing that tonight. We could have easily gone to him and put the ball in his hands, but he put trust in Malcolm (Brogdon) and Moose (Greg Monroe) coming down the stretch.”

Antetokounmpo has made great plays offensively in clutch moments this season, most notably his first career game-winner at Madison Square Garden, but it is still a time he has yet to completely master. Led by Antetokounmpo, the Bucks have been the NBA’s worst offensive team in clutch time by a wide margin, so he could use those reps. And to be clear, as one of the NBA’s 10 to 15 best players, those moments are his and that is not lost on his teammates.

“It’s huge,” Brogdon said of Antetokounmpo insisting on Brogdon getting late game chances. “Giannis is selfless. That’s why this team has been able to come together and make the run that we’re making. We follow his lead every night and it just speaks to his character and his leadership.”

Antetokounmpo may not be the vocal leader of this Bucks team just yet, but by example, he gives every one of his teammates a path to follow. When asked about getting his teammates involved throughout games, Antetokounmpo explained those decisions are made with a clear purpose.

“They have that confidence; I just tried to warm them up” Antetokounmpo said. “For instance, in the fourth quarter, I don't remember what play we were running, I told Malcolm to run the play we were running at the end of the game with Moose. I knew [Dwight] Howard was going to be back, so Malcolm was going to have the floater or the pass.”

“So, just telling him that and believing and giving him that confidence to run that play, that's what would make him feel better. He's a great playmaker and that's not going to be the last time that he has the ball down the stretch.”

Just three games later, Antetokounmpo’s prediction now seems prophetic.

The Bucks once again turned to Brogdon in the clutch. In fact, they turned to the exact same set in Boston, a simple pick and roll in the middle of the floor with Monroe. And Brogdon delivered.

The individual results for Brogdon on the final six possessions to end the game were spectacular, but most importantly, the Bucks picked up a win over the Eastern Conference’s best team.

“I think it speaks a lot to Coach Kidd and my teammates to trust me as a rookie to make plays down the stretch,” Brogdon said. “When they put that confidence in you, it's hard not to try to make plays.”

Apparently, it’s also hard not to be successful.