Milwaukee Bucks NBA Draft Picks 2024: Who did the team pick?
The Milwaukee Bucks have been on the lookout for players who can be a spark on both offense and defense. While rookies usually require patience before panning out as contributors, the Bucks did their best to pick out the best possible talent in the 2024 NBA draft.
The Bucks selected AJ Johnson with the No. 23 overall pick in the first round, which was their lone pick for the first night of the two-day NBA draft. Considered a big swing when he was selected, Johnson started his professional career in the National Basketball League (NBL) of Australia.
Johnson, who was born in Fresno, California before heading to Australia to play ball, averaged 2.9 points, 0.7 assists and 1.3 rebounds in just seven minutes of action for the Illawarra Hawks, the same team Charlotte Hornets’ star Lamelo Ball played in at the NBL.
For some mock drafts, Johnson was listed to be drafted in the second round, however, the Bucks may have felt that he would fit for the team, which is coached by Doc Rivers and newly appointed assistant coach Darvin Ham.
Johnson is a 6-foot-6 guard who can create offense for himself, through his sheer athleticism and self-creation prowess.
However, he will likely need to bulk up for the NBA, as he weighs 167 pounds, which can make him susceptible to offenses that hunt for mismatches.
How does AJ Johnson fit with the Milwaukee Bucks?
Looking ahead this season, Johnson could be a reliever for Damian Lillard and provide extra impact off the bench to help the Bucks return to their championship form.
There is optimism for him to crack the guard rotation for next season as the Bucks are likely to lose Patrick Beverley, Malik Beasley and TyTy Washington through free agency in the offseason.
However, the Bucks do not have a reputation for playing their rookie players for meaningful minutes in the regular season. Last year, only sophomore AJ Green and rookie Andre Jackson Jr. had a share of the guard minutes for the team, albeit on limited exposure.
While the team is set for championship expectations once more, it is hard to see Johnson take away minutes from veterans such as Lillard, Khris Middleton and Pat Connaughton.
How many draft picks do the Milwaukee Bucks have this year?
The Bucks have two picks in this year’s draft, the first being the No. 23 overall pick, which turned out to be AJ Johnson, and the No. 33 pick in the second round of the draft tomorrow.
It remains unclear who will they pick in the second round, but with the Bucks’ situation, they will likely pick whoever the best talent available is, as they seem pretty much set with their veterans in their roster.