Caris LeVert may not be the splashiest name in Milwaukee’s summer shuffle, but he’s already carving out a real role at Bucks camp in a way that has nothing to do with scoring. The veteran guard’s biggest impact so far has come as a steadying voice for a young roster that needs it.
The Bucks have only three players on the roster over 30, and LeVert has wasted no time making that experience count. Myles Turner has set the tone from day one, but LeVert has been right there as another presence the younger guys can lean on.
Kam Jones, a two-way guard trying to establish himself in Milwaukee, pointed to that support when talking about the veterans around him.
"MT has been great. Vert has been great.
All our older guys, Kuz, they've been great. They've been accepting, especially to me and making me feel welcome."
LeVert has also been direct about the rookies. When he spoke to the media recently, he had plenty to say about Brayden Burries and Nate Ament, and he didn’t hold back with the praise. In his view, both young players are already showing enough to make an impression.
"Both of them have done a great job. They both played at a high level last season.
Obviously, Brayden, his team was very good, so I think he is very ready to come contribute right away. I think Nate has surprised a lot of people as well.
I think he's making huge strides with his body. I see both of them in here each and every night working on their game.
That's definetly something you want to see with young guys."
That kind of backing matters. LeVert calling Burries ready for an opportunity carries extra weight because that opportunity could come at his expense. And with Ament, who has been viewed as more of a project, LeVert’s comments land as an encouraging sign before the season even starts.
The trade for LeVert was already a win for Milwaukee when it happened. The Bucks brought in LeVert and two second-round picks while sending out Taurean Prince and Gary Harris. Even if LeVert had never suited up, the deal would still have looked like a strong move.
Now there’s more to like. With Milwaukee’s roster crowded, LeVert could eventually become one of the players squeezed out, but keeping him around would make sense if the Bucks can manage it. He can serve as a mentor for the young group, and he still offers useful depth if injuries hit and the team needs another body.
For the moment, though, his job is clear: keep guiding the younger players and keep being the kind of veteran they can trust as they settle into Milwaukee.
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Kam Jones Has One Clear Path To Earning Bucks Trust
Kam Jones has already found the quickest way to get noticed in Bucks camp, and it starts on the defensive end. The two-way guard is in training camp and preseason working to show he can be more than just another young backcourt option, with his focus on defense giving him a clear lane to separate himself as Milwaukee sorts out its rotation and evaluates him under coach Taylor Jenkins.
For a player on a two-way contract, every practice and preseason minute matters, and Jones is trying to make the case that he can earn trust beyond spot-duty opportunities. His path may include time with both Milwaukee and the Wisconsin Herd, but the bigger question is whether the Bucks see enough defensive reliability to keep giving him a look when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
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For Miami, that matters because the expectation around this move is about more than one exhibition night or one early impression. Antetokounmpo pointed to the organizations shared desire to win and acknowledged the adjustment period as he gets comfortable in a new system, which is exactly the sort of early-season patience the Heat will need. The promise is obvious, even if the details still have to be sorted out. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Enter Preseason With One Lineup Battle Fans Need To Watch
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Taylor Jenkins said the roster now has real strength at the guard and wing spots, which is why these preseason games matter more than usual. There will be plenty of chances to sort out lineup combinations and clarify roles, but one battle stands out because it could shape how the Bucks choose to balance all that new perimeter talent once the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]