Bucks rookie Burries steps up in first summer league game
The Milwaukee Bucks got a strong start to summer league play on Saturday, with rookie guard Brayden Burries delivering a 12-point, 16-minute debut against Sacramento. The performance came just days after Burries signed his four-year, $29.2 million rookie deal - the maximum 120% of scale with the first two years fully guaranteed. Last result: Philadelphia 76ers 126-106 Milwaukee Bucks (2026-04-12). Recent form (last 5): 2W-0D-3L (LLWWL, most recent first); lost the last 2.
What the Bucks coaching staff saw in Burries
Burries didn’t just show up in Sacramento - he jumped into the huddle after the opening game to break down what Golden State was doing defensively. Bucks assistant coach Patrick St. Andrews, who ran the team in that game, called it rare for a rookie. “I’ve never seen a rookie do that in my life,” St. Andrews said. “It’s incredibly mature. And he’s not the loudest guy in the room, which I also appreciate. But you can feel his intelligence and how much he cares.”
St. Andrews has seen plenty of rookies since joining the NBA in 2017. But Burries stood out for his grasp of systems and willingness to speak up. The Bucks’ summer league opener set the tone for a young group that includes 2026 lottery pick Nate Ament and 2025 second-rounder Bogoljub Marković.
How Burries fits under Taylor Jenkins
Burries described head coach Taylor Jenkins as a “player’s coach” who holds players to high standards while letting them play freely. “He’s going to get the best out of his players,” Burries said. “He has a plan for everybody.” That plan includes Ament, who missed early team activities due to roster logistics before Milwaukee finalized a blockbuster trade.
Ament admitted the transition hit home when he stepped onto the Kings’ court. “Coming onto the Kings court it kind of hit me like ‘I’m actually in the NBA now,’” he said. “A lot of it has just been asking questions, leaning on guys that’s been in the league a little bit.”
What’s next for Milwaukee in summer league
The Bucks head to Las Vegas on Friday to face Miami in summer league play. Burries and Ament will get more run as Milwaukee tests its young core, including Marković, who joins the mix after being drafted last year. The team’s recent form - two wins, three losses in the last five - shows room for growth, but the early returns on Burries suggest promise.
St. Andrews sees a rookie who’s already building a foundation. “Good teammate,” he said. “That’s what stands out the most so far.”
