Jared Dudley is helping to shape the future of the Bucks
Jared Dudley is helping to shape the future of the Bucks. (USATSI)

Even in the midst of a postseason run, the Milwaukee Bucks have one thing on their minds. The future.

Of course with a team filled with potential stars like Jabari Parker and Giannis Antetokounmpo, it only makes sense that they are looking towards their future.

To help grow their young stars, the Bucks have put together a core of veteran players that are teaching Parker, Antetokounmpo, Michael Carter-Williams and John Henson the intricacies of the game. From Zaza Pachulia to Jerryd Bayless to Jared Dudley, Milwaukee has veterans that are not only helping their young players develop but are also helping the team win.

With the team weeks away from their first postseason berth since 2013, the experience of players like Dudley, who has been in the playoffs with the Phoenix Suns and Los Angeles Clippers, is vital to Milwaukee’s long-term success. An eight-year veteran, Dudley has embraced his role with the Bucks and after Milwaukee’s shootaround in Boston last week, he spoke with CBSSports.com, about his leadership, the team’s camaraderie and his experience playing with Steve Nash.

The following Q&A is lightly edited for clarity and flow.

CBSSports.com: What happened with your shot that went backwards a couple weeks ago? Did it just slip out?

Jared Dudley: Yeah man, it just slipped out of my hands. I was wide open too. I was just getting ready to shoot it and it just slipped.

(Shakes his head) That has never happened to me before. It is funny to look back at it now. I am glad we won and it didn’t really affect the outcome of the game.

CBSSports.com: What was the reaction from your teammates? Did they joke around with you about it?

Jared Dudley: They definitely gave some me grief. I know I was on Shaqtin’ A Fool. But overall it is always good to joke around with stuff like that.

CBSSports.com: Yeah, from watching this team’s reactions to big plays, it seems like you guys have a great camradiere and are having fun playing together.

Jared Dudley: We are close man. We see the playoffs in our sights and that is pushing us everyday. This team had the worst record in the NBA last year and now we possibly could be in the playoffs. It is not guaranteed but we are looking good at the sixth spot. We just need to get a few more wins to solidify our spot.

So anytime someone scores, or if it is late in the game, we are all up talking and shouting things out because we know what is at stake.

CBSSports.com: You’ve spent some time in the NBA now. How are you are helping some of the younger players on team this season and into the postseason stretch?

Jared Dudley: I try and be very vocal. You know, talking to people and getting on guys. I try to help guys get in the right position whether it be on offense or defense. I point out things on the floor that I see, so we can be successful as a team overall.

This is a family oriented team that gets on guys but the coaching staff also does a great job of putting everyone in positions where they can be successful.  

CBSSports.com: What makes the Bucks so family orientated?

Jared Dudley: Well, we hang out a lot. You know we go to movies as a team and do a lot of team bonding events. Guys are close and we just try to hang out as much as possible.

CBSSports.com: The Bucks have gone through three major events this season. First Jabari goes down, then Larry Sanders leaves the team and then the Brandon Knight trade. How have you helped some of the younger guys in these situations?

Jared Dudley: I just told them the advice that a guy named Steve Nash told me; “You can never get too high on wins and you can never get too low on loses.”

So for us it might be a roller coaster season, but I try and tell everyone that we have to stay even-keeled. We always have to stay confident. When a team sticks together and plays for each other, it all usually works out in the end.

CBSSports.com: Since you brought up Nash, what was your reaction to his retirement?

Jared Dudley: It is kind of surreal to think about. Especially since he had such an impact not only on my career but overall in the NBA. He caused the NBA to change a lot man.

He had a great career and is probably the most unselfish basketball player I have ever played with. It sucks that he had to go out injured but hey, he had an amazing career. I am looking forward to his next career whatever it is. Doing movies or whatever he wants to do.

CBSSports.com: What is an anecdote that you will tell your kids about him?

Jared Dudley: Wow! There are so many to choose from. The best way I could do him justice is by just talking in general about his work ethic. He was one of the hardest workers I know. He was always in the gym...his core balance was just so unique.

You could see it in all of the on-court moves he did. Everything he did was because of his hard work in practice and in the gym. He wasn’t someone who would go in the weight room and just do the bench press. He would do one-legged squats and do these balance exercises on a ball. All of the different core exercises he did were just so unique but it made such an impact on his game.

CBSSports.com: I know you have mentioned before about having an interest in becoming a basketball analyst. So put on your analyst hat and give me your take on the Bucks as they head into the postseason.

Jared Dudley: The Bucks are always going to play hard every night and are an unselfish team. They are a team that you have to keep out of the paint. Sometimes they’re shots may be off but they have great rebounders and if they get the ball inside, they are very difficult to defend.

Defensively they are scrappy, long and athletic so you have to just move the ball around and try and use the entire shot clock to get an open shot.