If Kevin Porter Jr. decides to leave the Milwaukee Bucks in free agency, Marquette guard Kam Jones could be an intriguing option at pick 47 in the upcoming NBA Draft.
Jones, a two-time All-Big East selection, spent four seasons with Marquette and is already a familiar face in Milwaukee. At the NBA Combine, he measured 6-foot-3.25 inches tall without shoes, weighed in at 202 pounds, and posted a 6-foot-6 wingspan.
Milwaukee could use a guard as Damian Lillard recovers
The Bucks, who are expected to be without Damian Lillard for the 2025–26 season, are in need of scoring and shot creation. While Jones is unlikely to replicate the impact Porter had in the second half of last season, the 22-year-old combo guard has the potential to contribute as a bench scorer and develop into a long-term rotation piece.
Jones led Marquette in scoring in three of his four seasons and helped guide the Golden Eagles to the NCAA Tournament each year. As a senior, he averaged 19.2 points and 5.9 assists per game. Though his shooting efficiency dipped — he shot just 31.1 percent from three — he’s a career 36.6 percent shooter from beyond the arc and hit 40.2 percent as a junior. That drop is attributed, in part, to his increased playmaking burden following the departure of point guard Tyler Kolek.
With players like Giannis Antetokounmpo drawing defensive attention, Jones could benefit from more open looks at the NBA level, like Gary Trent Jr. did this past season. He’s comfortable shooting from all three levels and creating off the dribble, traits the Milwaukee Bucks may value as they look to boost their backcourt.
One area for concern is his free-throw shooting — Jones shot just 67.1 percent from the line over his college career. His defense also remains a work in progress, but his physical strength and energy give him the potential to grow into a solid team defender.
Jones ranks second all-time in scoring at Marquette, a school that produced NBA stars like Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler. He recorded seven 30-point games in college and has shown the ability to take over offensively. With the Milwaukee Bucks needing to make up 20-plus points per game in Damian Lillard's absence, Jones could be worth a look.
While it’s unlikely Jones would enter the league as a starter, his scoring instincts and familiarity with the city of Milwaukee make him a compelling option for the Milwaukee Bucks as they consider depth and future potential late in the draft.