Get to know Milwaukee Bucks backup guard Jeff Teague, who played for the Atlanta Hawks

Jeff Teague knows all about the Atlanta Hawks, the Milwaukee Bucks’ opponent in the Eastern Conference Finals. He spent much of his career in Atlanta and was on that team the last time it advanced this far in the postseason. Get to know Teague here.

How long has Teague been on the Bucks?

He’s been with the Bucks since late March. Milwaukee signed him after he was released by the Orlando Magic before this year’s trade deadline.

Has he played for other teams? 

Yes. Teague played his first seven years with the Atlanta Hawks where he was the starting point guard in the final five seasons. He was traded after the 2015-16 season to Indiana. He played one year there before signing with Minnesota. Teague spent 2 ½ years there before being traded back to Atlanta where he finished the 2019-20 season. He started this season with Boston on a one-year deal but the Celtics traded him to Orlando in March. Teague never suited up for the Magic.

RELATED: Charles Barkley botches one on TNT regarding Jeff Teague

Where is Teague from?

He’s from Indianapolis. Teague played his college basketball at Wake Forest. 

What’s Teague known for?

For a while in Atlanta, Teague was one of the top point guards in the NBA. He’s No. 5 in Hawks history for most assists, according to Basketball Reference, and during the 2010s Teague posted the 10th most assists in the league, according to statemuse.com. 

RELATED: ‘It was destiny’: Jeff Teague completes his circuitous route to the Bucks

Nearly eight years ago, the Bucks and Teague almost were a match. In summer 2013, then-Bucks general manager John Hammond signed Teague to a four-year, $32 million offer sheet as a restricted free agent. But, the Hawks matched that contract and Teague was retained and played for then-new Hawks coach Mike Budenholzer, who is now in his third season with the Bucks. 

How tall is he?

6-foot-3 

How old is Teague?

33 years old

What’s his nickname?

“Nacho,” because he always offered to sell whatever people wanted from him.

“You’re always trying to make some cheese, I’m going to start calling you Nacho,” a friend told him, according to a story in 2016 on nba.com. 

What were his stats in 2020-21?

In 55 games with Boston and Milwaukee, Teague is averaging 6.7 points, 1.6 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 43.3% shooting, 43.9% from three-point range and 84.8% from the free-throw line.

He’s averaging 6.0 minutes per game in eight playoff games through Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals.

Who’s Teague’s family?

Teague’s parents are Shawn and Carol. Shawn played college basketball at Missouri for one year and then three at Boston University. Shawn is the chief financial officer for The Factory, a three-court basketball facility that also features strength and agility training, in Speedway, Indiana. Shawn and Carol Teague’s niece, Kwana Evans, is the director for The Factory. Shawn and Carol’s oldest son, Terrell Teague, serves as the facility manager.

RELATED: Teagues helping community, themselves at The Factory, the family’s training facility

Teague has four siblings. His younger brother, Marquis, won a national championship at Kentucky in 2012 and was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 2012 draft. Marquis has spent the majority of his career in the G-League.

Other facts about Teague?

Teague was a consensus second-team All-American as a sophomore at Wake Forest for the 2008-09 season.

He was a first-round draft pick (19th overall) by the Atlanta Hawks in 2009. 

Teague was an All-Star in 2015, a season in which he averaged 15.9 points per game and 7.0 assists. 

RELATED: What to know about Giannis Antetokounmpo, the Milwaukee Bucks’ two-time MVP

RELATED: Get to know Milwaukee Bucks forward P.J. Tucker, who has given the team a lockdown defender in its championship chase

Teague played for Budenholzer in Atlanta for three seasons.  

He played in 62 postseason games in Atlanta, including 51 starts. Teague and the Hawks finished 60-22 during the 2014-15 season and earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference. They advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals before being swept by LeBron James and the Cavaliers. 

Contact Christopher Kuhagen at (262) 446-6634 or christopher.kuhagen@jrn.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ckuhagen.

Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal.