While everyone was fixated on the players actually on the Milwaukee Bucks standard roster to open the Summer League, it was a player just along for the ride who stole the show. Cormac Ryan, coming off the bench, immediately made his presence felt in this game and played a vital part as the Bucks held off the Denver Nuggets late.
Cormac Ryan steals the show in the Milwaukee Bucks' close win
Ryan wasted no time after clocking in during the first quarter. In just under six minutes, he poured in nine points on 3-of-5 shooting, including 2-of-3 from deep. With a smooth outside stroke, he looked comfortable heaving up triples, and the results were there. He carried that momentum throughout the rest of the game, eventually doubling his early point total.
The guard was particularly surgical late, making a couple of key plays down the stretch. With the Bucks down by five in the fourth, Andre Jackson Jr. found Ryan for a layup to cut the deficit down to three. With 33 seconds left, Ryan sunk a layup off a pass by Jamaree Bouyea, who hit the eventual game-winner, to knot the game at 87.
In total, Ryan finished with 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, including 3-of-6 from deep, to go along with two assists and a steal.
Ryan looked poised and in control every step of the way, and that shouldn't be too surprising, given that he is already nearly 27 years old. While he's not some young, potential-filled hidden gem, there might be a spot for him in the NBA if he can keep this up. It's no secret that Milwaukee is always on the prowl for more shooting, and Ryan certainly has that in his arsenal.
Now, it was only one Summer League game. Ryan hasn't guaranteed himself a roster spot or anything like that, but he certainly has more eyes on him than he did before this game. If he can keep this up in the next few games, real conversations should be had. That may even involve him landing a two-way deal, whether in Milwaukee or elsewhere.
The thought of taking the next step should have him more than motivated to keep this up after the Bucks gave him a shot. Milwaukee is no stranger to internal promotions (look at the duo of AJ Green and Ryan Rollins).
No one likely had Cormac Ryan being the standout from game one of the Summer League, but he undeniably was.
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