In a recent face-off against the LA Clippers, the Milwaukee Bucks had to dig deep into their roster due to a spate of injuries, and Cormac Ryan seized his moment. The two-way wing, who had seen limited action in previous games, finally had the chance to display his skills-and he delivered impressively.
Cormac Ryan Shines Against the Clippers
Logging 20 minutes off the bench, Ryan made the most of his increased role. He tallied 13 points and a steal, shooting 4-of-6 from the field, including an impressive 3-of-5 from beyond the arc, and was flawless at the free-throw line with 2-of-2.
What truly caught the eye was Ryan's confidence. Given this was his first substantial NBA opportunity, one might expect some nerves. Instead, he showed poise, taking shots when they were available and not shying away from the moment.
Ryan's first points came from a determined drive to the basket, finishing a tough layup over the defensive efforts of Kris Dunn. From there, it was all about the three-pointers.
He confidently sank his first three after receiving a pass from Ousmane Dieng in transition. His only steal of the night led to another transition three, and he capped off his performance with a three-pointer off a Taurean Prince assist.
Though the Bucks came up short, Ryan's performance was a definite highlight.
Opportunity Knocks for Cormac Ryan
With the Bucks' injury list not getting any shorter and just eight games left in the season, Ryan is likely to see more playing time. This stretch is crucial for him to make an impact, as evidenced by Pete Nance's recent promotion to a standard contract after a season on a two-way deal. If Ryan continues to impress, he could find himself in a similar position come summer.
Ryan knows his path to success lies in his shooting ability. As he mentioned in a conversation last November, his focus is on being a consistent shot-maker.
"Continue being a shot-maker. That's what I do.
I shoot the ball at a high level," he said, highlighting his primary contribution to the team.
Now, on the big stage with the Bucks, Ryan has the platform to prove himself. While it's early to make sweeping judgments based on one game, his initial performance offers plenty of promise.