Brayden Burries keeps making the Bucks look smarter by the minute.
Milwaukee’s rookie guard delivered the kind of preseason finish that sticks with a coaching staff. In the Bucks’ win over OKC, Burries took control late and powered the comeback when the game tightened up. He finished with 12 points in the final stretch on 3-of-4 shooting, plus three rebounds and a steal, and the production came exactly when Milwaukee needed it most.
The scoring burst was the headline, and for good reason. Burries stayed aggressive down the stretch, muscling in two layups through contact before hammering home a thunderous dunk.
That push to the rim also sent him to the line eight times, where he knocked down six. His 12 clutch points were the most anyone has scored in the NBA Preseason, rookies included.
What stood out just as much was the way he handled the moment. Burries had a rough first half, but none of that bled into the closing minutes.
He looked calm, decisive, and ready to keep attacking. Other first-year players can get sped up in those spots.
Burries didn’t. Maybe that comes from being a little older for his class, or maybe he’s simply wired for late-game pressure.
He also earned credit on the glass. At 6-foot-4, Burries had to scrap for every rebound against a crowded Thunder front, and he did exactly that. One of his best boards came after a missed floater, when he fought through three Oklahoma City defenders to grab his own miss and draw free throws.
That’s why the buzz around him keeps building. Between Summer League and the preseason, Burries has kept reinforcing the idea that Milwaukee may have landed one of the draft’s real steals. The bigger question now is where he fits in a reworked Bucks rotation.
The backcourt is crowded, and that was part of the reason Burries didn’t get much run in the preseason opener. Coach Taylor Jenkins has already pointed to defense as a path for Burries and fellow rookie standout Nate Ament to earn minutes.
Burries looks capable of handling that end of the floor, and if he keeps flashing this kind of poise and shot-making, more playing time won’t just be a possibility. It’ll be a necessity.
In Other News...
Jaime Jaquez Jr. Is Giving The Bucks A Tough Early Decision
Jaime Jaquez Jr.s first few preseason outings in Milwaukee have not offered much comfort for a team trying to sort out its long-term picture. Through the first two games, the young wing has had trouble finding a rhythm, and the early returns have only complicated the Bucks evaluation of where he fits as they continue building out the roster.
The timing makes it especially tricky because Milwaukee has a decision looming on whether to lock in a rookie-scale extension before the October 19 deadline. With Jaquez still searching for cleaner production and a more convincing on-court case, the Bucks are left weighing patience against the risk of waiting too long to settle a key piece of business. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Rollins Is Already Forcing A Bucks Backcourt Debate
With the Bucks still reshaping themselves after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, the early preseason has already offered a small but telling glimpse into how the backcourt might sort itself out. Ryan Rollins has taken advantage of the opening, playing with a steadier feel and a clear willingness to organize the offense, the kind of early tone-setting that can matter on a roster still learning itself.
Tyler Herro, by contrast, is still searching for his rhythm, and the contrast has been hard to miss in the first exhibition games. Preseason is a thin reed to lean on, especially with so much of the season still ahead, but the Bucks at least have a real discussion forming around who should steer the backcourt first when the games start counting. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Rollins Is Creating A Bucks Decision That Could Get Costly
Ryan Rollins has quietly put the Bucks in a spot where his next contract could become a much bigger conversation than anyone expected when he first arrived. His recent play has changed the way he is viewed around the league, and for Milwaukee that matters because guard value can move fast once a player starts turning production into leverage.
Golden States decision to lock in Brandin Podziemski on a five-year, $110 million extension only sharpens the picture around Rollins, even if the situations are not identical. Milwaukee does not have to make a move right now, but if Rollins keeps trending the way he has, the Bucks may soon be staring at a price point that looks a lot different from where his career started. [Read more 🡒]