The Milwaukee Bucks’ 2026 NBA Summer League run ended in Las Vegas with a 2-3 record and a 24th-place finish, but the real purpose of the trip was bigger than the standings. For a team in a rebuilding phase, this stage is about giving young players reps, space, and a chance to show what they can become in the post Giannis Antetokounmpo era.
At the top of the list was Burries, who was easily the most electric Buck in the tournament. He finished as the fifth-leading scorer in the entire Summer League and attacked the rim without hesitation.
His handle let him get wherever he wanted on the floor, and once he got there, he showed real craft with his finishes. He also took care of the ball, averaging just .8 turnovers per game.
That kind of control, paired with his physical style, makes it easy to see him as a future fixture in Milwaukee’s rotation.
The one area that held him back was the free throw line. His concentration needs work there, because the shooting touch is better than the numbers suggested. Even so, the way he played made one thing clear: he can draw contact and get to the stripe, and that matters.
Ament had his own moments, and the wider Summer League floor seemed to help him. Playing off Burries’s gravity gave him cleaner looks, and the extra space opened up his pick-and-roll game.
He was able to move at his own pace, find his spots, and rise into shots over defenders. Still, the rough edges showed.
His rebounding was only okay for a 6’10 guy, his ball handling was shaky, and turnovers piled up when he had the ball in his hands too much. He’ll also need a screen to get free, and his slow feet showed up on defense.
The Bucks and their fans are going to need patience here.
Kasparas arrived in Milwaukee after his rookie year with the Miami Heat, as part of the Giannis trade, and he put together a solid showing. His vision stood out, and so did his outside shooting touch, which already made an impression last season.
He also defended well and should fit nicely alongside Burries and Ryan Rollins. But his work in the paint was a problem all tournament, and he’ll need to start playing off two feet more inside if he wants to clean that up.
Nance brought the kind of steady, veteran feel that shows up quickly in this setting. He ran the floor in transition, knocked down shots, and made smart decisions with the ball.
Those are useful traits for a rebuilding team, especially if he ends up in the right role. The downside is just as clear: he doesn’t rebound much, and he doesn’t provide much rim protection.
The former Indiana Pacer also looked healthy after dealing with a back injury and a run-in with the law. He appeared refreshed and locked in on basketball, and he made a point of getting his new teammates involved.
That has to remain part of his approach if he wants to stay in the league. His shooting was closer to his college numbers in Summer League than it had been in the pros, which likely came from facing less ball pressure.
He didn’t get to the free throw line often because he isn’t especially quick or explosive, and he’s not a big vertical athlete. Instead, he scored in the lane with length and craft.
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