Ryan Rollins is making a very early case that the Bucks’ backcourt belongs to him, not Tyler Herro.
That was not the expectation when the blockbuster deal sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to South Beach finally landed. The quick read around Milwaukee was simple: Tyler Herro was coming home, and with him came the clearest path to being the new face of the offense. As the presumed next best player on the roster, he looked like the obvious successor to carry the Bucks into whatever comes after the Giannis era.
Two preseason games later, that picture already looks shaky.
Herro arrived with the reputation, the highlight reel, the postseason résumé, and the nine-figure contract that usually comes with being handed the keys. On a roster stripped of star power and entering a rebuild, it made sense that fans and pundits immediately slotted him in as the top usage option, the primary creator, the guy who would set the tone while the younger players settled in under Taylor Jenkins. The role seemed there for him.
Instead, Rollins has stepped in and changed the conversation.
Through his first two preseason outings, Rollins has averaged 13.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting 58 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep. Those numbers matter, but they don’t tell the whole story.
What stands out is how comfortable he looks running the show. He has the poise of a lead guard who believes the offense is already his, and he’s carrying himself like someone who expects to be paid like it too.
Herro, meanwhile, has had stretches where he’s still trying to find his footing in the new setup. There have been moments where he looks caught between going after his own shot and fitting into Jenkins’ ball-movement approach.
Rollins, by contrast, looks completely at home. He’s bringing a defensive edge and a two-way presence that fits exactly what Jenkins wants, and he’s doing it with the kind of energy that pulls everyone else into line.
When your primary ball-handler is picking up 94 feet and battling on the glass, that sends a message. Rollins is doing more than scoring efficiently; he’s setting the pace and shaping the identity of the unit. Herro can still provide scoring punch, but Rollins is the one dictating the heartbeat.
Of course, it’s only preseason, and there’s plenty of time for Herro to settle in and show why he came in with top-option expectations. Talent like that doesn’t vanish overnight, especially once the chemistry starts to build. Still, the early read is hard to ignore: Jon Horst and Taylor Jenkins may not need to look far to find their real backcourt alpha.
This writer has called for trading Herro the moment a favorable offer materializes, and Ryan Rollins is the reason why. He’s playing like a guy who knows the keys are already in his pocket. If these games dating back to last season are any indication, he has zero intention of handing them over.
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Jaime Jaquez Jr. Is Giving The Bucks A Tough Early Decision
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The timing makes it especially tricky because Milwaukee has a decision looming on whether to lock in a rookie-scale extension before the October 19 deadline. With Jaquez still searching for cleaner production and a more convincing on-court case, the Bucks are left weighing patience against the risk of waiting too long to settle a key piece of business. [Read more 🡒]
Brayden Burries Is Forcing A Bucks Rotation Question
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For a Bucks team still sorting out its bench mix, Burries has at least created a real question. Taylor Jenkins has already pointed to defense as the area that could determine whether the rookie gets more court time, and that makes the next stretch of preseason work especially important. If Burries can keep bringing the same poise while proving he can stay in the right spots defensively, the case for a larger role gets a lot harder to ignore. [Read more 🡒]
Ryan Rollins Is Creating A Bucks Decision That Could Get Costly
Ryan Rollins has quietly put the Bucks in a spot where his next contract could become a much bigger conversation than anyone expected when he first arrived. His recent play has changed the way he is viewed around the league, and for Milwaukee that matters because guard value can move fast once a player starts turning production into leverage.
Golden States decision to lock in Brandin Podziemski on a five-year, $110 million extension only sharpens the picture around Rollins, even if the situations are not identical. Milwaukee does not have to make a move right now, but if Rollins keeps trending the way he has, the Bucks may soon be staring at a price point that looks a lot different from where his career started. [Read more 🡒]