After spending the 2025 Summer League with the Milwaukee Bucks, Cormac Ryan stayed in the state to join the Wisconsin Herd. This writer chatted with the wing about what he'd bring to the table for the Herd leading up to the season, and Ryan spelled it out clearly.
"Continue being a shot-maker. That's what I do. I shoot the ball at a high level. I compete defensively. I bring a lot of energy and leadership to the group. Bringing all that here to the Herd and helping us compete and win games, just continuing to showcase what I can do well and why I can impact the team at this level but also at the NBA level as well."
Now, Ryan must provide all of that to the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ryan lived up to his words, and it's earned him and NBA opportunity
Ryan brought all of that and thensome to the Herd. This year, he's averaged 21.5 points, 4.7 boards, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 44.2 percent from three. Everyone knew he had potential after a solid Summer League showing with the Milwaukee Bucks, but the numbers were far beyond what many expected.
The wing wasn't lying when he told this writer before the season that he was a shot-maker. Despite never being much of a perimeter shooter, Ryan was a marksman for the Herd this year, knocking in big shot after big shot on a consistent basis. On top of that, his growth as a facilitator and in terms of defensive instincts helped fuel his breakout. He looks like a true two-way shooting guard.
The stats were great, but so was the leadership. At 27 years old, Ryan isn't a raw prospect like a lot of G League players tend to be. He's played more basketball than most G League players. He used that hard-earned basketball experience to help guide the Herd in critical moments and assist teammates in their growth.
After leaving their final two-way slot open for over a month, the Milwaukee Bucks justifiably filled it with Cormac Ryan, giving them another viable wing via an in-house promotion.
Ryan must keep building if he wants NBA minutes
Milwaukee's two-guard rotation is one of the roster's strong points. Ryan isn't coming in and earning any minutes over Cam Thomas, Gary Harris, or Gary Trent Jr. The rest of this season will be all about getting his feet wet in the NBA waters, somewhere he's never been. If he displays all of the things he said he would with the Herd, he could be well on his way to a role next year.
This summer, Milwaukee's shooting guard depth will likely undergo some changes. Thomas, Harris, Trent, and Andre Jackson Jr. can all hit free agency. If a current depth strength becomes a weak point, the Bucks would have a possible option in town already in Ryan. He'll have to play the long game, but the opportunity is there for the taking.
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