Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brayden Burries is progressing quickly. 

The 21-year-old guard was impressive immediately coming off the bench, and it appears that he has now locked down a starting spot just nine games into the season. 

Burries has started the last three games for the Bucks (1-8), and although the team is losing, his ascension is something the franchise will be extremely pleased about. He is proving that the moment isn't too big for him. 

Having displaced Ryan Rollins from the starting lineup, Burries received the bulk of the backcourt minutes next to Tyler Herro down the stretch of the Bucks' 121-107 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday. 

That was a nod of approval from first-year head coach Taylor Jenkins. 

"He played great," Jenkins said. "He earned [late game minutes] through his playmaking and his ability to get downhill. He did a great job rebounding. He was making some shots and getting to the free-throw line. I thought he did a solid job on defense. 

"There are some things he can do better, but he was playing great tonight... So, I rewarded the kid." 

Most nights, when a rookie steps on the hardwood, they experience career firsts or highs. However, Burries' performance against the Raptors wasn't an ordinary freshman display. 

He notched significant highs in points, rebounds, assists, minutes, and field goals made, and recorded his first career block and double-double. 

Burries posted 21 points, 11 rebounds, and six assists — shooting 8-for-14 from the field (1-for-5 3PT) and 4-for-6 from the line in 38 minutes. 

That's not just any stat line. For a 6-foot-4 guard, that's giving the Bucks a glimpse of an extremely bright future if the trajectory of Burries' development holds. 

Jenkins is satisfied with Burries' growth already — especially as a playmaker and rebounder. The Bucks knew he could score, but his ability to facilitate and make an impact on the glass pairs up nicely with Herro's skill set. 

There was excitement about the potential of a Herro-Rollins backcourt before the season. However, Burries may have altered those plans sooner than expected. 

The Bucks have to be even more patient now than they were initially. If they are going to continue rolling with their No. 10 overall pick from this year's draft starting the rest of the way, complete consistency may take time. 

Once Burries gets there, though, he will be a difference-maker. 

His 13 points and 8.3 rebounds per game as a starter, along with Herro's 22.3 points, five rebounds, and 4.6 assists, provide the Bucks with a solid floor to build on right now. 

Their chemistry will only continue to grow, too, and it needs to, since they didn't get many reps together in the preseason. But that's what this season was really supposed to be all about anyway: growth. 

With Herro in his contract year, the Bucks have some big decisions to make moving forward. If they are going to re-sign him, letting Burries get plenty of burn as his running mate this year could serve them extremely well next season and beyond.