Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brayden Burries was impressive in every sense of the word at summer league. He defended with intensity, scored with volume, and even showcased the ability to operate as a playmaker who can create for bigs and wings alike.
One anonymous scout has pinpointed an area that some may have overlooked as a summer league success that may actually translate to the NBA: Burries' uncanny ability to take care of the ball.
Burries went off at summer league, recording averages of 21.2 points, 4.0 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.6 steals, and 1.8 three-point field goals made. As is often the case, however, caution has been advised in regard to overreacting to a player's ability to score at summer league. Thankfully, that wasn't all he did.
According to Brian Windhorst of ESPN, an anonymous scout was impressed by how Burries not only took on a high-volume role, but did so without turning the ball over.
"You can look at the stats and see [Burries] scored, and lots of guys can score here," another scout said. "But when you see a young guard handle the ball as much as him and not turn it over, that tells you something about his makeup, at least at this stage."
With an average of 0.6 turnovers per game across five summer league appearances, Burries' poise and control as a ball handler absolutely deserves praise.
Brayden Burries turned heads by producing without turning the ball over
Volume scoring will always be worth a second look, but it's important to understand the context of such success. Oftentimes, players receive the ultimate green light at summer league due to the simple fact that they're one of the few players on the team with a guaranteed roster spot.
As such, NBA teams will often turn summer league into a film study on what their featured young players are capable of and what type of weaknesses might be preventing them from realizing their potential.
Burries is by no means a flawless player ready to dominate the NBA, but he certainly looked ready for a higher tier of competition. He not only asserted himself as a volume scorer and quality playmaker, but made reads that were like that of a veteran.
Burries didn't force the issue in a way that resulted in bad shots, aimless drives, or lazy passes, but seemed decisive and in control of the ball at all times.
That bodes well for him as he searches for ways to receive minutes alongside proven and productive perimeter players Tyler Herro and Ryan Rollins. Burries could potentially usurp them both, but until then, he'll need to prove he can make an impact without making the type of mistakes that will derail the team's progress.
Thankfully, if the way that Burries has taken care of the ball is a sign of things to come, then his measured approach on offense should bode well for his development as an NBA player.
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