The Milwaukee Bucks moved quickly to address their backcourt needs after waiving Damian Lillard and signing Ryan Rollins to a three-year, $12 million contract. Rollins stepped up when Milwaukee needed him most during the 2024-25 season.
How Did Ryan Rollins Earn His New Contract With the Bucks?
ESPN’s Shams Charania broke the news on X late Sunday that the Bucks had agreed to bring Rollins back to Milwaukee. The deal includes a player option in the third season.
“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,” Charania noted. “He opted for a rest of season contract, became an unrestricted free agent, and now is rewarded with a $12M deal.”
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
Rollins wasn’t a household name entering free agency, but he caught attention around the league during his breakout 2024-25 campaign with Milwaukee. The 23-year-old guard drew interest from the Phoenix Suns, Portland Trail Blazers, San Antonio Spurs, and Los Angeles Lakers. Milwaukee beat out that competition to keep their rising guard on an affordable deal.
The Golden State Warriors selected Rollins 44th overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, but he struggled to find consistent playing time early in his career. He appeared in just 25 NBA regular-season games across two seasons with Golden State, Washington, and Milwaukee before the 2024-25 season. That changed dramatically once he got his opportunity with the Bucks.
What Numbers Did Rollins Put Up During His Breakout Season?
Rollins appeared in 56 games for Milwaukee during the 2024-25 season, averaging 6.2 points, 1.9 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in just 14.6 minutes per game. Those numbers don’t tell the full story of his impact. He shot 48.7% from the field and 40.8% from three-point range, showing major improvement as a shooter.
Ryan Rollins will be the steal of FA
just turned 23, 6’10 wingspan, super active defender, 87%tile in deflections/75, 60th in 2yr D-RAPM, one of 10 players with a >2.5% STL >1.9% BLK last season
Shot 55% 2P 40% 3P with a 1.9 a:to & 15% AST, elite rotation guard in plain sight pic.twitter.com/J7iEQO6OOf
— g (@freewave3) July 6, 2025
The real test came when injuries hit Milwaukee’s backcourt. Head coach Doc Rivers made the bold decision to start Rollins over veteran Delon Wright when the team needed backcourt help. Rollins responded by averaging 10.2 points per game in his 19 starts while shooting 45.2% from three-point range.
His defensive metrics stood out just as much as his offensive production. With a 6’10” wingspan, Rollins ranked in the 87th percentile in deflections and finished 60th in two-year defensive real adjusted plus-minus. He became one of only 10 players last season with both a steal rate above 2.5% and a block rate above 1.9%.
Rollins proved he can guard multiple positions and disrupt passing lanes while knocking down open shots. That combination of skills makes him valuable for a Milwaukee team looking to compete for another championship. At $4 million per year, the Bucks got a bargain for a player who showed he can contribute when his number is called.
The signing gives Milwaukee depth behind their starting backcourt while providing flexibility for the future. Rollins has room to grow at just 23 years old, and his player option for the third year gives him some control over his next contract. For a team that needed guard depth after moving on from Lillard, bringing back Rollins was a smart move that addressed an immediate need without breaking the bank.
