Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brayden Burries has been voted the biggest steal of the 2026 NBA Draft in a survey of NBA general managers. The news provides a bright spot for the team as they work through their preseason schedule, which included a 104-125 loss to the Chicago Bulls on October 14.
Burries, selected 10th overall by the Bucks, received 30% of the votes from GMs on the question of the draft's biggest steal. That percentage was the highest of any rookie. Toronto's Allen Graves, Labaron Philon, and Meleek Thomas all trailed at 10%. The recognition isn't new. ESPN's NBA Insiders also labeled Burries the top steal back in August. In a draft class headlined by AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, and Cameron Boozer, Milwaukee may have found its own franchise cornerstone.
The Bucks acquired the pick used on Burries as part of the franchise-altering trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat. Milwaukee also held the 13th pick from that deal, selecting Nate Ament. Ament also received votes in the GM survey. Ironically, last year's biggest steal winner, Kasparas Jakučionis, was also acquired by the Bucks in the Antetokounmpo trade.
The team is deep into its preseason preparations. Their most recent outing was a 104-125 defeat against the Chicago Bulls on October 14. Other preseason results include a 105-90 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on October 11 and a 128-126 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on October 7. They opened their exhibition slate with a 97-116 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves on October 5.
These games are the first steps for a reshaped roster. With Antetokounmpo's era over, the direction now hinges on developing young talent like Burries and Ament. The front office gave itself two chances to hit on a future star, and early external validation suggests they succeeded with their first selection.
The Bucks' next test is a road preseason game against the Indiana Pacers on October 16. It's another opportunity for Burries and the young core to gain valuable NBA experience against playoff-caliber competition. The team's full preseason and regular season schedule can be found on our schedule page.
All eyes will be on how the rookies integrate. Burries has done nothing but prove his supporters right so far. His performance in training camp and these early games will determine his role. For a team in transition, identifying a potential star in the draft is a massive win. The GM survey confirms the league shares that belief about the Bucks' new guard.
