The Milwaukee Bucks could have selected Javon Small in the 2025 NBA Draft, but they passed on him, choosing to take Bogoljub Markovic instead. One pick later, the Memphis Grizzlies selected Small, and lately, that pick has been paying off. Small has been playing well, and the Bucks may start to think, ‘What if?’
Small played his college ball at West Virginia, but he hadn’t been earning much playing time for the Grizzlies this season. That is, until lately. Now, he’s playing regular minutes in Memphis and looks like a potential steal. A steal that could have been on the Bucks.
He was right there for the taking, but Milwaukee passed on him.
The Bucks passed on Javon Small in the NBA Draft, and now, he's thriving
The Grizzlies selected Small with the No. 48 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. As noted, he wasn’t playing much for Memphis early in the season. However, that has all changed.
Memphis made a big swing move at the trade deadline, moving on from Jaren Jackson Jr. They traded him to the Utah Jazz in a blockbuster deal, choosing to enter a rebuilding phase.
Cedric Coward and Zach Edey will undoubtedly lead that rebuild, but Small has been looking like the type of player who could be a potential long-term piece in Memphis.
In his last 15 games with the Grizzlies, Small’s minutes have seen a serious uptick. He has earned five starts in those 15 games and is playing 25.3 minutes per contest.
Small’s numbers have been impressive. In those 15 games, Small has averaged 12.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and 1.2 steals while shooting 47.4% from the field and 44.8% from deep range on 3.9 three-point attempts per contest.
At just 6-foot-1, Small is definitely on the smaller side (pun absolutely intended), but that hasn’t affected his ability to put up impressive stats in Memphis.
Milwaukee could have used a player like Small, especially considering the decision they made when they waived and stretched Damian Lillard. A 23-year-old guard would have been a very nice addition to the lineup, especially with how well Small had shot the ball.
Maybe Bogoljub will end up being a real player for the Bucks. He could eventually show up and turn into a great player in Milwaukee. But right now, it looks like Small would have been a better pick, especially considering Bogoljub hasn’t appeared in a game for the Bucks yet.
He could be thriving for the Bucks instead of the Grizzlies right now. But Milwaukee passed on him.