In a world where small market cities like Milwaukee are discounted, it's nice to hear a player praise it for a change. That's exactly what Bucks guard Ryan Rollins did during an interview with Yahoo! Sports, talking about how much he enjoys the city. Importantly, he also talked about how it's the perfect fit for him, sending Milwaukee a message that he needs to stick around for the long haul.
"Milwaukee is a great fan base, and I like it, man. It’s a low-key spot. I’m a low-key guy, so I guess it fits me.”
Rollins' long-term desire is clear
The guard's love for Milwaukee shouldn't come as a surprise. Rollins grew up in Detroit, Michigan and went to college in Toledo, Ohio. Milwaukee becoming the place he calls home in his basketball career is natural. The Midwest is simply where he belongs and where he will hopefully be for a very long time throughout his career.
Milwaukee's front office should love what Rollins said. For a team that hasn't had much success when it comes to finding young, talented pieces for the long haul, having a player like Rollins talk about how much he enjoys the environment and the fanbase is a breath of fresh air. It also signals a desire to be with the franchise for the foreseeable future.
After what he showed last season, Milwaukee should have no desire to move on from the rising guard. In a season full of disappointment, Rollins was the only shining light, rising from a second-unit fill-in to a full-time starter with two-way potential bursting at the seams. At 23, he's still young and could be an important piece for this team long term.
Rollins defends Milwaukee from outside noise
As mentioned, Milwaukee gets a bad wrap. The topic had been trending recently after Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James said he didn't like playing in the city. Though Rollins didn't outright bash James' take, he did fire back, talking about how the city has a lot of "hidden gems" that are out there worth exploring, such as food spots.
Rollins said he could understand how a visitor might not enjoy it as much as someone who actually lives there and experiences its joys regularly. Not every city will be Los Angeles, LeBron.
There's no telling what the future holds for Ryan Rollins, but it is welcoming to hear him talk openly about how much he enjoys the city and environment he's in. It could certainly play a part when it's time to talk about his next contract, which should be quite hefty if he keeps playing the way he did last season.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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