When it comes to the 2021 NBA Draft, it may be the furthest thing from the minds of all Milwaukee Bucks fans.
After all, the Bucks are in the thick of an interesting playoff race brewing throughout the East and this is certainly a make-or-break week that will impact what seed they hold going into the playoffs. The fact that the Bucks don’t have a first round pick in this year’s draft certainly dulls interest in the Bucks’ prospects in this year’s draft before the start of the playoffs, admittedly.
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
However, with the Houston Rockets having claimed the worst record in the NBA Monday night following their 140-129 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, the Bucks will hold the 31st overall pick in this coming draft.
Of course, the Bucks acquired that selection during the P.J. Tucker trade, which also saw their 2021 first round pick go to Houston after they received their 2022 first rounder that the Rockets previously acquired in the James Harden blockbuster earlier this season.
The Milwaukee Bucks have held the 31st overall pick before on three separate occasions
This will mark the fourth time that the Bucks have held the 31st overall pick in an NBA Draft.
The first such occasions came back in 1969 after the Bucks’ expansion campaign where they selected Skeeter Swift in that year’s draft, who didn’t go on to make an appearance with the Bucks and spent his entire career playing in the NBA.
The second time the Bucks held the 31st overall selection came in the 1979 NBA Draft where they tabbed Edgar Jones out of Nevada. Like Swift, Jones never ended up making an appearance with Milwaukee as he was waived by the Bucks ahead of the 1979-80 season, but he did spend six years playing in the NBA.
Lastly, the Bucks used the 31st overall pick in the 2014 NBA Draft on French international Damien Inglis. Inglis’ time in Milwaukee was mired by injury and little playing time, but he still managed to make 20 appearances with the Bucks, all of which came during the 2015-16 season, and averaged 1.8 points per game on .351/.231/.875 shooting,1.6 rebounds per game and 0.5 assists per game.
Needless to say, the Bucks don’t have an illustrious history of holding the 31st overall pick. Yet it could still net them a valuable contributor to develop in the years to come as they look to maintain this bright era of Bucks basketball.