The Milwaukee Bucks already had their minds made up on Bogoljub Markovic before Summer League ever tipped off. After a year overseas, the team brought him in on a standard NBA contract, and the evaluation was done.
The games in Las Vegas were never about whether Milwaukee believed in him. They were about what kind of rookie project the Bucks had on their hands.
What they got was a 21-year-old forward who flashed real promise, but also made it clear he’s still very much a work in progress.
Markovic spent the last few weeks in Summer League and finished with averages of 8.8 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and a block per game across five outings. That’s enough to hint at a useful skill set, but not enough to draw any sweeping conclusions.
The sample was small, and the player is young. Still, there were signs worth noting.
The biggest positive was his added strength. Markovic looked noticeably more physical than he did last summer, and he used that extra bulk to attack the paint and battle on the glass.
He showed the kind of all-around utility that can make a roster more functional, even if he’s not the centerpiece of anything. A player who can chip in across categories has value, and that was part of the appeal here.
But the rough edges showed, too. Markovic had moments where he looked out of place, especially on the defensive end.
Strength helped him, but it didn’t erase the athletic gap. Faster, more explosive players gave him problems, and his offense never really found a rhythm.
He shot 38.1 percent from the field, which kept the overall impression from moving beyond encouraging.
For Milwaukee, that’s not a problem. It’s the point.
The Bucks are not expecting Markovic to walk in and carry a major load as a rookie. Even with the organization leaning younger after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, his first year is more about learning the league, soaking up information, and developing behind veterans. That’s the lane that makes the most sense for him.
And he’ll have to fight for every minute. The frontcourt is crowded with Myles Turner, Kyle Kuzma, Pete Nance, Kel'el Ware, Jericho Sims, and even Nate Ament after his strong Summer League.
There’s no easy path here, and Milwaukee won’t hand him anything. A stint with the Wisconsin Herd in the G League would not be a surprise if the Bucks want him getting more reps.
For now, the takeaway is pretty straightforward: Markovic showed enough to justify the investment, but not enough to suggest he’s ready to be a real factor right away. Year one is about growth, not instant production.
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