When the 47th pick was announced, there was a lot of shock and doubts about the Milwaukee Bucks selecting Bogoljub Markovic, but there should be optimism about the Serbian forward as he could be Milwaukee's own version of Santi Aldama.
Yahoo Sports' analyst Kevin O'Connor compared Markovic to the Spaniard before the 2025 NBA Draft, due to his ability to be a modern stretch four and his ability to pass and score in the post.
Why Bucks fans should be optimistic about Bogoljub Markovic
Markovic is a really good 3-point shooter with a high release, making 41 percent of his shots from deep last season. In the post, he has a nice touch with both hands, and he is a positive passing big man who can work well in the pick-and-roll and pick-and-pop.
One of the main concerns with him are his lack of athleticism and strength. At 6-foot-11, he weighs around 190 lbs, meaning some guards are heavier than he is. That limits him defensively against more physical big men, but he also needs to work on his isolation defense, as guards can expose his lack of mobility.
Brook Lopez was similar for the Bucks in recent years. Once Jrue Holiday was traded away, Lopez struggled defensively and found himself more exposed on the perimeter.
O'Connor went on to grade the pick as an A+, stating, "Marković was a first-rounder on my personal big board, so I consider him a steal at this point of the draft."
It is always difficult to judge the European players taken later in the draft, as they don't have the hype that the likes of Luka Doncic had when he was drafted in 2018. Giannis Antetokounmpo was somewhat similar. When he was drafted, there was a lot of uncertainty around him and what the Milwaukee Bucks' plan was.
Aldama entered the league in a very different way from Markovic, playing at Canterbury Academy in Las Palmas, Spain, before spending two years at Loyola (Maryland). In 2021, he was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies with the 30th pick and has gone from strength to strength with the team, as well as becoming the talisman for the Spain National Team at the 2024 Olympics.
This past season, he averaged 12.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.9 assists on shooting splits of .483/.368/.691 in 25.5 minutes across 65 games. He is now at the end of his rookie contract and is expected to be extended by the Grizzlies, with some reports suggesting it could be around four years, $80 million.
Aldama, now 24, doesn't have the star ceiling that Markovic currently has at just 19, but he is one of the most complementary players in the league who could fit on almost any roster. Markovic, with his modern style, could certainly follow the same path. If he adds muscle to his already solid offensive skills, then he can have a long and successful career in the NBA as a stretch big. He would be the perfect player to pair Giannis with in the frontcourt.
It will be intriguing to see whether the Milwaukee Bucks do stash him, as some reports suggest. That would allow him to work on his craft in a place where he is already settled and doesn't face the immediate pressure of the NBA. However, at some point, the Bucks will need to see him against elite competition; they cannot afford a similar situation to that of Hugo Besson.
Markovic has a lot of upside and an incredibly high ceiling. If he were to become a player of similar level to Aldama, then it would be a very positive and successful pick by the Bucks. He could be a real hidden gem in this year's class; it just may take time for fans to see him firsthand in Milwaukee.