Ryan Rollins Enters a Crowded Backcourt With a Breakout…

By the Bucks Nightly Desk · Sunday, October 4

Ryan Rollins averaged 17.3 points and 5.6 assists last season, a leap that made him one of the few Bucks guards kept through the trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to Miami. He enters camp needing to prove that role survives a backcourt now sharing the ball with Tyler Herro, Kevin Porter Jr. and Kasparas Jakucionis.

Ryan Rollins of the Bucks — Ryan Rollins. Photo: MrJacon000, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Last season

Rollins played 74 games, averaging 32.1 minutes, 17.3 points, 5.6 assists and 4.6 rebounds, shooting 47.2 percent from the field and 40.6 percent from three on 6.1 attempts a night. His usage climbed to 23.6 percent with a 58.3 true shooting mark, even as Milwaukee's defense sagged to a 116.5 rating on its way to a 32-50 finish.

This summer

On June 23, Milwaukee sent Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami for Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel'el Ware and Jakucionis. Rollins stayed, one of the few holdovers alongside Myles Turner and Kyle Kuzma, as the front office rebuilt the roster without its longtime franchise scorer.

This week

At Fiserv Forum on October 3, Rollins was the first returning player to address the crowd, ahead of newcomers Jaquez Jr. and Jakucionis doing the same. Head coach Taylor Jenkins, hired April 30 after leaving Memphis, has said he may use a different starting five in each preseason game, leaving Rollins' spot with the first unit unsettled.

Entering camp

Herro, Porter Jr., Jakucionis and Rollins all need touches in the same backcourt. Rollins' 26.4 percent assist rate and his jump from role player to lead guard argue for keeping him running actual offense, not just filling minutes, as Jenkins sorts out who starts and who finishes games.

Next Milwaukee opens its preseason slate October 5 against Minnesota, with the regular-season opener set for October 21 at Washington.

Is Ryan Rollins starting for the Bucks this season?

Nothing is set. Taylor Jenkins has said he may roll out a different starting lineup in each preseason game, so Rollins' place with the first unit is still undecided entering October.

What is Ryan Rollins' contract situation?

Rollins is signed for $4.0 million in 2026-27, with a $4.0 million player option for 2027-28.