After a wild draft night, the Milwaukee Bucks introduced their new draftees and provided some insight on what attracted them into selecting them in this year’s draft.
It’s been less than 24 hours, but the effects of this year’s draft are still being processed.
One of those shocking surprises obviously comes from your Milwaukee Bucks, who swung for the fences last night by selecting the promising, but very raw Thon Maker with the 10th overall pick.
It’s clearly a big gamble on the Bucks part, but with GM John Hammond’s penchant for drafting players who carry loads of potential, it’s unsurprising. Now, the hope is that with the right development in place, players like Maker can reach a ceiling that few thought would be possible as Bucks.
More from Bucks News
- Bucks 2023-24 player profile: Can MarJon Beauchamp take a leap?
- Piecing together the Milwaukee Bucks’ dream starting 5 in 5 years
- Predicting Thanasis Antetokounmpo’s 2023-24 stats for the Bucks
- Grade the trade: Bucks land reputable backup guard in swap with Pacers
- New workout video should have Milwaukee Bucks fans excited
What Maker can contribute right now remains to be seen, but it was a calculated risk that the Bucks clearly thought was worth taking at the position they were standing.
With the 36th overall pick, the Bucks selected a more proven commodity with Virginia senior Malcolm Brogdon.
One of the older players in this draft class, Brogdon’s pedigree as a “three-and-D” shooting guard/wing fills immediate needs for the Bucks on the court and his drive, along with his high character, makes him look wise beyond his years.
With the Bucks selections now in the books, we got a look at the incoming rookies on Friday afternoon, and with Jason Kidd and John Hammond also present, we got a little more information on what both players can bring to the table for the team.
Regarding how both decisions feel with a little more time to reflect, Hammond had this to say about selecting both Maker and Brogdon:
"“We walked out of this building and you always talk about how you feel once it’s over and, you know, when you put your head on the pillow at night, where’s the feelings at that time and I’ll tell you what, I rested very well last night. I felt really good about the players we added, felt good about the basketball players that we added and felt even more so about the people and men that we added to this organization.”"
With all the mystery surrounding him, especially considering the unconventional path he took in the way he entered the draft, Maker had this to say regarding how he approached this opportunity in hopes of reaching the NBA:
"“I think it’s about me being myself at all times and never, you know, trying to portray a certain image. Just always be myself, my coaches here always tell me ‘be yourself.’ As I was going through the workouts, just play your game, be yourself and if you try to portray a different image and let’s say you make mistake trying to make a different play that’s not you, you’re going to feel nervous and you’re going to start questioning your confidence after that. So, just be yourself and the rest will take care of itself and for me, being myself is just being a good person no matter what.”"
For as young as the Bucks are, Brogdon’s in a unique position of being an experienced player while adjusting to the NBA. That could be a daunting task for others, but Brogdon put it best as he’ll welcome whatever role he’s given:
"“I’m excited. I’m ready to take on whatever role that coach Kidd and Mr. Hammond have in mind for me. I think, at heart, I’m a leader, but I think in this situation, I’ll have to listen. I’m going to learn even from the younger guys already here. I’m going to listen to them, I’m going to learn as much as I can from them. I’m going to learn from the older guys and I’m going to feel my way out and I’m going to step in. I think I always naturally lead on the court by just working. I’m going to work and guys tend to follow that, but I know that hard work is on this team, so I hope that I just join in on the culture.”"
For as unique and different their paths were to the NBA, both Maker and Brogdon clearly share the same drive to want to put the work in and create a positive culture, in the hope that it leads to success.
It’s easy to overlook those traits as just followers of the NBA, but for a team that’s still in the process of creating/grooming an identity as well as aiming for big things, that’s essential for a team like the Bucks.
Next: Win In 6 Podcast #62: Draft Night Reaction
Where this leads to remains to be seen, but it’s hard to not be excited by what both players can bring to the Bucks on and off the court.