Bucks bet on youth and extend Ryan Rollins: a $12 million three-year contract

A meteoric rise since arriving in Milwaukee

The story of Ryan Rollins with the Bucks perfectly illustrates the success of young player development. Arriving in February 2024 on a simple « two-way contract », the 44th pick of the 2022 Draft had only played three games during his first experience in Milwaukee.

After stints with Golden State and Washington without truly establishing himself, Rollins seized his opportunity during the past season. Taking advantage of Damian Lillard’s injuries, he played 56 games including 19 as a starter, demonstrating his 3-point shooting abilities with 40.8% success from beyond the arc.

Convincing performances that open the door to a starting role

Rollins’ statistics speak for themselves: 6.2 points per game on average for the season, but 10.2 points with 45.2% from 3-point range during his 19 starts. In his last ten regular season games, in Lillard’s absence, he averaged 12.3 points and 4 assists with a remarkable 58% success rate from 3-point range.

This steady progression now opens the door to a major role for the 2025-2026 season. Rollins should at minimum occupy the backup point guard position, but could also contend for a starting spot in the Bucks’ backcourt.

Milwaukee clearly bets on stability with this extension, Rollins becoming the sixth free agent retained this summer after Kevin Porter Jr., Bobby Portis, Taurean Prince, Gary Trent Jr., and Jericho Sims. Despite interest from the Suns, Lakers, Spurs, and Trail Blazers, the Toledo native chose to remain loyal to the team that gave him his first real NBA opportunity.

Rollins, a 2022 second-rounder, joined the Bucks on a two-way contract in Feb. 2024 and spent most of 2024-25 on a two-way before receiving a standard deal in March. He opted for a rest of season contract, became an unrestricted free agent and now is rewarded with a $12M deal. https://t.co/uVZ5oa8rfA

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 7, 2025

Currently recovering from left shoulder surgery, Rollins represents a future investment for a Bucks franchise rebuilding around Giannis Antetokounmpo.