Bucks rookie following in Patrick Beverley's footsteps following recent change

On Media Day, players across the NBA report to their teams for photos, press conferences and more, which is precisely what the Milwaukee Bucks did Monday.

During the festivities, rookie Tyler Smith, who was drafted in the second round of the 2024 NBA Draft, was wearing a new number than he previously had been. After initially choosing to wear 15, Smith has opted to switch to No. 21 for the 2024-25 NBA season.

This number was last worn by Patrick Beverley, and it certainly caught some attention when he did it. Of course, that was Jrue Holiday's number during his stay in Milwaukee, and some felt it was too soon for someone to wear that number again after Holiday was abruptly traded to the Portland Trail Blazers before last season began. Well, now it has another new player calling it their own.

What to expect from Bucks rookie Tyler Smith

Smith likely won't play a key role with the Milwaukee Bucks in his first season, as he's still just 19 years old. This year will be all about growing as a player and getting his feet wet as he soaks up knowledge from talented bigs like Giannis Antetokounmpo, Brook Lopez and Bobby Portis. Still, there's no doubt about the talent and potential the 6-foot-11 athletic big man has in tow.

The athleticism is Smith's most compelling attribute at his size. That type of burst and leaping ability is something Milwaukee's frontcourt has lacked outside of Giannis Antetokounmpo for many years, and Smith could help the Bucks turn the page in that regard. His reliable perimeter shot at that size makes him all the more compelling, especially when hypothetically paired with Giannis.

Ironically, it was the other rookie who many thought would change their number. Johnson, currently rocking No. 77, hinted during a prior interview on 101.7 The Truth that he might change his number leading up to the season. However, on media day, he was still wearing No. 77, so for the time being, it appears he is sticking with it. He made it clear he'd like a single digit, so perhaps he's waiting for that.

It might be a while for No. 21 to make a legitimate impact on the Milwaukee Bucks, but the team is very glad they have him on the roster no matter what number he chooses to wear.

Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.