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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 Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
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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.
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