Ryan Rollins Is An Unsung Hero For The Milwaukee Bucks

Forbes

07-04-2025

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - APRIL 01: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks reacts to a three point ... More shot during the second half of a game against the Phoenix Suns at Fiserv Forum on April 01, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by)
What took the Milwaukee Bucks so long? Hindsight is 20/20, but it's wild it took them so long to pluck Ryan Rollins off a two-way deal and give him a real seat at the table.
That move finally came in early March. Rollins had used up his two-way eligibility, and the Bucks didn't want to let him walk. With a need for point guard depth, they turned to the 22-year-old who had logged just 140 NBA minutes before this season.
The Bucks converted Rollins to a standard contract for the rest of the 2024-25 NBA season, making him a restricted free agent in the offseason. The deal was a season in the making; the only surprise was that it didn't happen sooner.
But first, let's rewind.
Rollins played two years at Toledo, where he stuffed the stat sheet with 18.9 points, 6 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per game in his sophomore season. Drafted 44th overall in 2022 by the Atlanta Hawks, he was immediately rerouted to Golden State.
The Warriors only gave him 12 games during his rookie season before tossing him into the Jordan Poole trade the following offseason, sending him to the basketball desert known as Washington.
The Wizards, known for their wonderful player development, moved on from Rollins midway through his first season with them. That opened the door for him to sign a two-way deal with Milwaukee last February.
Rollins quickly proved his worth to the Bucks this season. He logged his first career start against the Toronto Raptors in mid-November. With Damian Lillard out and head coach Doc Rivers wanting to keep his rotation intact, he turned to Rollins to play the starting role.
In 22 minutes, Rollins posted 12 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 5 steals. He played with the confidence of a 10-year vet, not someone starting his first career game.
Just minutes into the first quarter, the ball found Rollins in the short corner after being knocked away from his MVP teammate. Rollins pulled the trigger without hesitation and rose up for a mid-range J.
It vibrated twice on the rim before popping out.
Milwaukee scrambled to get control of the rock before AJ Green eventually corralled it and fired it back to Rollins. This time, he was behind the three-point line, but he pulled the trigger without hesitation once again. Splash.
The man has a short memory and a green light.
Defense might be where he shines brightest. At 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds, he has the size, instincts, and lateral quickness to guard up and down the lineup.
He showed off that versatility in the first defensive possession of the game against the Raptors. He started the play on Daivion Mitchell in the left corner. As the action unfolded toward him, Mitchell received a dribble handoff going to the left wing.
Rollins and Green switched, matching Rollins with the bigger and stronger RJ Barrett. However, didn'ts didn't bat an eye. As Barrett got the ball back in the corner, Rollins immediately pressed into his grill, got physical, and swiped the ball away. Barrett looked around with his hands up in disbelief.
But, as they say, progress isn't linear.
After his strong debut, Rollins rode the pine for over a month—just two appearances and less than four minutes of total action between November 12 and December 20. But when the Bucks called again, he answered. And then kept answering.
He's now started 16 games this season, posting career-highs across the board: 6.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists, and 0.8 steals per game. The trendline is only pointing up.
In March, he averaged 8.1/2.4/2.5. In April, those numbers are up to 13 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists. The confidence is building. And so is the trust from his teammates and coaches.
The Bucks needed someone to grab the wheel. After trading Delon Wright for being, let's say, aggressively unproductive, Rollins has stepped in and taken the reins with calm control.
Milwaukee's timing to convert Rollins was also impeccable. They transitioned his contract on March 4th. Two weeks later, Lillard was sidelined with a blood clot in his leg.
He can run the offense, get Milwaukee into sets, and take some pressure off Giannis Antetokounmpo. He can also spot up and play off the ball—he's shooting a scorching 40.5 percent from deep, including 43.8 percent on catch-and-shoot looks.
The best part is the Bucks are good with Rollins on the court. They have outscored their opponents by 2.9 points per 100 possessions with him on the court. That's not MVP-type numbers, but is a very solid mark for a role player.
Even if Lillard returns this season, Rollins has carved out a spot in this rotation. He's a two-way guard who competes, understands his role, and never tries to do too much. In a league full of flashy stat hunters, Rollins brings his lunch pail and just goes to work.
It's time he got his flowers.
At just 22, Rollins might be just scratching the surface. The Bucks may have stumbled into something here—a late-blooming guard with old-school toughness, a smooth shooting stroke, and a knack for making winning plays.