The latest 2025 mock draft from NBA.com and Bleacher Report has the Milwaukee Bucks selecting Kentucky sharpshooter Koby Brea 47th overall.
Complementary shooting will always be a necessity as long as Giannis Antetokounmpo is employed by Milwaukee, but wing depth will also be a key focus this offseason. After losing his starting gig and overall rotation minutes in the postseason, Taurean Prince will likely walk out the door in free agency, and Brea could be an interesting option to fill his shoes on the wing and as a shooter.
Koby Brea's shooting makes plenty of sense for the Bucks
During his five-year collegiate stay between Dayton and Kentucky, Brea knocked down an impressive 43.4 percent of his triples on 4.9 attempts per contest. That included a scorching 49.8 percent on 6.1 tries in 2023-24. He's the definition of an elite shooter, and that floor spacing will get him drafted to a team, like Milwaukee, that has a star who demands consistent complementary shooting.
While he almost certainly wouldn't start from day one, Brea could come in and provide the same floor spacing that Prince did. This past season, Prince's first in Milwaukee, the forward shot 43.3 percent on his triples. They also have almost identical physical numbers, as Prince is 6-foot-6, 218 pounds, while Brea is 6-foot-6, 215 pounds. Physically and skill set wise, Brea could be a nice replacement.
Something else these two share, though not as gaudy as the shooting numbers, is that when their shots aren't falling, their impact lessens mightily. They aren't elite passers, rebounders or athletes; their games primarily rely on that shot, so when it's not falling, it's tough to have them on the court.
For instance, Prince shooting 22.2 percent from deep in the NBA Playoffs played a part in his losing his spot in Doc Rivers' rotation. In Kentucky's postseason loss to Tennessee, Brea finished with five points, two rebounds, one assist and one block in 32 minutes, shooting 1-of-7 from the floor. That outside shot will dictate just how good of a game either player has.
Brea, although he still has plenty of room to grow, could be a good fit in Milwaukee due to experience. At 22 with five collegiate seasons under his belt, Brea may be more ready to contribute sooner rather than later compared to other prospects. There was plenty of chatter last offseason about the Bucks' bold move to prioritize long-term potential over win-now pieces.
If the Milwaukee Bucks do keep their second-round pick in the upcoming draft, they need to nail it. This team hasn't had much success drafting under Jon Horst, but they have a chance to add help in the form of a youngster. Whether it's Brea or not, they need a hidden gem. Drafting a player whose game relies on succeeding in one key area could certainly be risky, but Brea's shooting prowess certainly is compelling, especially as a late second-rounder.
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