Heading into the NBA season, the Bucks have a real choice to make in the backcourt, and it’s not a small one. With Tyler Herro likely taking one guard spot, Milwaukee still has to settle on who opens games at point guard: Ryan Rollins or Kevin Porter Jr.
Both guards got plenty of run last season, and there were even nights when they shared the floor together. But if the Bucks are narrowing this down to one starter, Rollins is the cleaner fit right now.
He brings the kind of profile teams want from a modern lead guard. Rollins can handle pick-and-rolls, knock down threes off the catch or off the dribble, and keep the offense moving.
Last season, he started 67 of the 74 games he played and made the most of the opportunity. He averaged 17 points per game while shooting 40% from 3-point range, and he also took on tough defensive assignments against players like Cade Cunningham and Tyrese Maxey.
Porter Jr. has his own appeal. He’s a creative scorer and can generate offense in a hurry when the ball is in his hands.
But his streaky shooting from deep and the amount of time he can hold the ball cut into how much he helps the group overall. He’s the kind of player who can make a bench unit hum, especially if he’s running with a younger second group.
Rollins also has the advantage of already showing he can function alongside another ball-dominant guard. That matters with Herro in the mix. He’s been productive both on and off the ball, and the Bucks should want to see how far his game can go if he gets the job full time.
That’s why the starter call points to Rollins, at least for now. Porter Jr. can still serve a useful purpose as a bench scorer, but Rollins has earned the first crack.
And if Milwaukee is thinking even further ahead, Kasparas Jakucionis is another name to watch. Acquired from the Heat and just 20 years old, he may have the most upside of the group as a complete package because of his size and passing, and his shooting was surprisingly strong as a rookie.
For now, though, the answer is Rollins. The Bucks can let Porter Jr. help the second unit, keep Rollins in the starting five, and see whether Jakucionis eventually becomes the long-term answer.
In Other News...
Bucks Have A Young Reclamation Project Worth Watching
The Bucks have already shown they were paying attention to Ryan Dunn once before, and that could matter again if Phoenix starts listening on its young forward. Milwaukee passed on Dunn in the draft, but his profile still fits a team that has leaned on length, defense and development projects around the edges of its roster. For a Bucks staff that has had success helping players find roles, Dunn remains the sort of prospect worth revisiting if he becomes available.
What makes him interesting is the same thing that makes his situation unsettled in Phoenix. Dunn has flashed real defensive value, but the offensive side of his game still needs a lot of work, and the Suns crowded forward group gives them a practical reason to consider moving him before the deadline. If Milwaukee wants another swing on a young reclamation project, Dunn offers exactly the kind of upside-laced gamble that could become more appealing the closer the trade market gets. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Bench Could Make This Role Easier Than Fans Expect
The Bucks have reason to feel good about how their second unit might function this season, especially if the bench keeps stretching the floor the way it is built to do. Milwaukee is expected to lean on a group with several players known for their three-point shooting, which should help keep defenses honest and give the second unit some much-needed spacing around the ball.
Kevin Porter Jr. looks like the leading candidate to handle backup point guard duties, and his passing and playmaking should make life easier for everyone else in that group. Kasparas Jakucionis is also in the mix as a possible future option, giving the Bucks another name to watch as they sort out who ultimately controls those minutes behind the starters. [Read more 🡒]
Jason Kidd Still Looms Large As Giannis Enters A New Chapter
Jason Kidd may be away from the sideline for now, but he has not drifted far from the game or from the people he helped shape. While spending more time with his family, Kidd remains open to another NBA coaching job and has kept himself connected to basketball in a quieter way, offering informal mentorship and staying in touch with players he has known well. For Bucks fans, that matters because his time in Milwaukee still sits as an important part of Giannis Antetokounmpos rise.
Kidd continues to communicate with Giannis and Jalen Brunson, a reminder that his influence has extended beyond any one stop in his coaching career. Even as Giannis moves into a new chapter, the relationship between the two is still part of the backdrop, and Kidds role in helping develop the star during his Bucks years is still recognized. What comes next for Kidd is unresolved, but the league has not heard the last of him. [Read more 🡒]