Bucks’ No. 47 Pick Just Made His Summer League Debut and It Went Better Than Expected

Milwaukee’s summer league opener in Sacramento was supposed to be a tune-up. Instead, it turned into a showcase for a 6-foot-11 Serbian kid who barely registered on draft night.

Bogoljub Marković put up 16 points on 8-of-12 shooting Saturday, adding six rebounds and three assists in the Bucks’ 97-83 win over Golden State’s summer squad. He didn’t take a single three. Didn’t need to. Everything he did came from inside the arc with footwork that looked a few levels above what you’d expect from a 47th pick.

Marković saved his best work for the second half, helping Milwaukee pull away after a close first two quarters. His touch around the rim was soft. His timing on rebounds was sharp. For a guy who barely played in summer league last year before heading back overseas, this felt like a different player entirely.

And that’s the whole point of the story.

Marković spent the year in Serbia with Mega Basket, where he won MVP of the Adriatic League. That breakout season forced Milwaukee to rethink his timeline. They signed him to a four-year rookie deal and brought him over early, partly because they needed to see what they had, and partly because what he showed in Europe made it hard to wait.

The Bucks are still figuring out their roster around Giannis, and young depth pieces matter. Boston Jr. led all scorers with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting. Kira Lewis Jr. added 14 points and five assists. But Marković drew the most attention because of what he represents: a long-term swing that might actually hit.

He turns 21 this summer. The expectation around the team is that he’ll spend most of next season with the G League’s Wisconsin Herd, getting reps and adjusting to the pace of the NBA game. But performances like Saturday’s give the front office something to think about. If he keeps playing like this in Las Vegas, the conversation might shift faster than anyone planned.

The Bucks have more games at the California Classic before heading to Vegas. Marković will get plenty of run. For a franchise looking to build around younger talent while still competing now, that first look in Sacramento was about as encouraging as it gets.