Michael Carter-Williams loves former teammates

MILWAUKEE - Michael Carter-Williams never envisioned wearing a white Milwaukee Bucks No. 5 jersey. He never visualized facing Nerlens Noel, Jerami Grant, and the rest of the 76ers in anything more than an intrasquad scrimmage.

The reigning rookie of the year saw himself as a Sixers building block - not an asset used to obtain the Los Angeles Lakers' top-five-protected draft pick.

But he was an asset that brought another first-rounder to Philadelphia. He was also on the court Wednesday night, schooling his former teammates in Milwaukee's 104-88 rout at BMO Harris Bradley Center.

Carter-Williams finished with seven points and a game-high eight assists in just 17 minutes, 31 seconds of action in his Bucks debut. He sat out the fourth quarter.

Carter-Williams was traded to Milwaukee (32-25) last Thursday. But this was his first game action since Feb. 2 because of a bruised right big toe.

"I thought I had proved myself to be one of those cornerstone people," he said before the game about being a Sixer. "I think what I spoke to [general manager] Sam [Hinkie] and a lot with coach [Brett Brown], I was one of those pieces and [we] were going to build from me, Nerlens, and [Joel Embiid].

"But things changed. I'm not sure of the reason."

The 6-foot-6, 185-pounder embraced Brown and chatted with him 50 minutes before the game. The two had been playing text tag Wednesday after the Sixers arrived here in Brew Town.

"I don't believe it was up to Coach," Carter-Williams said of being traded. "It definitely wasn't up to any of the players . . ."

The 23-year-old added that he doesn't have any animosity toward his former teammates.

"I love them all," he said.

Carter-Williams is just unsure why Hinkie thought it was best to trade him. The former Syracuse standout thought he was proving to be a good lead guard for the Sixers.

"I honestly don't know his direction or what he wants to do," Carter-Williams said. "I'm not really sure. I wish I had an answer, but I don't."

Nor did the Sixers (12-45) have an answer for him during his limited time on the court.

He opened the game with an assist to Ersan IIyasova. After Zaza Pachulia's basket gave the Bucks a 4-0 lead, Carter-Williams scored six of their next eight points to give them a commanding 12-3 lead with 7 minutes, 46 seconds left in the first quarter. He did it on two dunks and a floater over Noel.

"I just try to be aggressive, try to get easy buckets and do the little things out there," said Carter-Williams, who was a little winded early on.

He was also a vocal floor leader, even directing standout swingman Giannis Antetokounmpo where to be on certain plays.

"I very much enjoyed coaching Michael Carter-Williams," Brown said before the game. "I miss him."

The coach raved about how Carter-Williams embraced the Sixers' emphasis on development.

"You saw an emerging leader," Brown said. "You saw a tougher defender. . . . I just feel like he was improving, moving in the right direction.

"The Milwaukee Bucks are very fortunate to get Michael Carter-Williams."

Antetokounmpo, who finished with five points, 11 rebounds, six assists, and three steals, agreed.

"It was hard playing against him because he was big, long, and athletic," he said. "He can do different things as a guard. So it's nice having him on your team."

Bucks reserve post player John Hensen had game highs of 21 points and three blocks to go with nine rebounds.

Shooting guard Jason Richardson paced the Sixers with 16 points. Reserve power forward Thomas Robinson had seven points and six rebounds one day after the Sixers claimed the power forward off waivers.

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