Tyler Herro’s arrival in Milwaukee changes the spotlight for Ryan Rollins, and that may be exactly what the Bucks guard needs.
Last season, with Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Porter Jr. injured, Rollins was thrust into a much bigger role for the Milwaukee Bucks. He went from a player teams barely had to account for to someone they were actively scheming against.
Now the setup looks different. Herro’s presence should pull some of that defensive attention away from Rollins, and that could set him up for another strong season.
The matchup load should be lighter for Rollins, too. Instead of seeing defenders like Ausur Thompson, Dyson Daniels, Davion Mitchell, and others every night, he figures to draw the opponent’s second or third-best stopper while Herro handles the tougher assignments that come with being the player carrying the All-Star pedigree. That opens the door for Rollins to attack softer coverage and make the most of the opportunities in front of him.
Herro’s shot volume will naturally cut into some of Rollins’ touches, so a jump past last season’s scoring total would be a surprise. But that does not mean Rollins has to take a step back in any meaningful way.
He should still get enough looks, especially if Herro expands his passing with the added responsibility. For Rollins, the key is efficiency, and that was one of his best traits last year.
A useful comparison is Jrue Holiday in New Orleans. Holiday posted flashier numbers with the Pelicans when he had more freedom, but his impact rose once he got to Milwaukee.
His scoring dipped next to Giannis, yet his efficiency climbed because he got cleaner chances to do what he does best. That made him a more dangerous offensive player overall.
Rollins is hoping for a similar kind of boost, and while Herro is not the Greek Freak and Rollins is not Holiday, the idea still applies.
There is also a bigger financial angle here. Rollins can already be penciled in to decline his $4 million player option for 2027-28 as soon as he is able to next offseason.
He is set to play on one of the NBA’s best value contracts this year, but the next contract will be about securing a major raise. If Herro is taking on the primary scoring load, Rollins does not need to look like a first option to cash in.
He needs to excel as a No. 2, and he is capable of doing exactly that.
That is a big reason so many people have already slotted Herro and Rollins in as Milwaukee’s starting backcourt. The fit makes sense. Herro can run the offense as the lead scorer and attack from all over the floor, while Rollins can work off the ball, punish weaker defenders, and bring his defense on the other end.
Milwaukee may have found a real one-two punch.
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