Milwaukee Bucks Swing For The Fences In 2025 NBA Draft

Forbes

4 hours ago

Belgrade, Serbia - November 24: Bogoljub Markovic of Serbia during the FIBA Eurobasket 2025 ... More Qualifier match between Serbia and Denmark at Aleksandar Nikolic Hall on November 24, 2024 in Belgrade, Serbia. (Photo by David Damnjanovic/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
With just one shot to make something happen in the 2025 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks decided to swing for the fences. At pick No. 47, they rolled the dice on Serbian big man Bogoljub Markovic, a 19-year-old with loads of potential and a long runway ahead.
Markovic was the most productive draft-eligible player from Europe, playing last season for Mega in the ABA. He put up some solid numbers: 13.9 points, 6.9 boards, and 2.6 dimes while shooting nearly 55 percent from the floor.
He's got game, but he's not NBA-ready just yet—and that's fine, 'cause the Bucks knew what they were getting into.
According to ESPN's Jonathan Givony, Markovic is gonna stay overseas another year to keep sharpening his tools. Honestly, that's probably for the best.
At 6-foot-11 and 213 pounds, he's caught in no man's land—too skinny to bang in the paint like a true center, and not quite quick enough to hang with athletic fours just yet.
But what the kid does have is a silky-smooth jumper. He splashed nearly 39 percent from deep last year and has legit stretch big potential. He's a sniper on catch-and-shoot threes and knows how to find his spots. Toss in a 76.5 percent free throw clip and a nice little floater game, and you can see why the Bucks took a flyer.
He's also got soft hands and a good feel around the rim. Dude can clean up a rebound and get it right back up before the defense even blinks. He can also catch passes in traffic while around the rim and finish on the move.
That said, he's still raw.
His handle's loose, he dribbles too tall, and he coughed it up 2.7 times per game—more turnovers than assists, which ain't ideal.
On D, he's serviceable but not exactly a rim protector. He's got decent mobility, but not enough bounce or length (he has a 9-foot-2 standing reach) to scare anyone away from driving right at him.
That's why stashing him in Serbia for another year makes perfect sense. He needs to live in the weight room, pack on some muscle, strengthen his core, and tighten up his handle if he wants to hold his own in the league.
This pick is all about upside. It's not a slam dunk, but it's got real 'diamond in the rough' vibes. If everything clicks, Markovic could grow into a solid rotation piece—or maybe even a starter—down the road.
It'll take a minute, but for the Bucks, this was the kind of low-risk, high-reward swing you take when you're trying to hit on long-term value at the back end of the draft.