The Warriors don’t want it, the Wizards don’t want it! The Bucks missed the 23-year-old star: averaging 16+5 per game, perfect match for Giannis Antetokounmpo

Opportunities are always reserved for those who are prepared. When you are at a low point, you must keep an enterprising heart. Maybe opportunities are just around the corner. Ryan Rollins experienced the trough of being traded by the Warriors, waived by the Wizards, and signed by the Bucks on a two-way contract, and he struggled to rise again step by step. This season, he seized the opportunity when starting point guard Kevin Porter Jr. suffered a knee injury and ushered in a explosive rise. In the first 9 games of the new season, he became the Bucks' second leading scorer, more powerful on the offensive end than Myles Turner, Kuzma, Trent and others.

On November 8, the Bucks defeated the Bulls 126-110. Rollins made 7 of 13 shots, 4 of 6 three-pointers, 2 of 2 free throws, and scored 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 steals and 1 block. He handed over offensive and defensive data.

Rollins served as the backup point guard in the opening game of this season, but Kevin Porter Jr. suffered a meniscus injury in his right knee in the opening game and recently underwent surgery and will be out for at least four weeks.

Rollins has been the starting point guard of the Bucks since the second game. He has scored in double figures in 8 consecutive games and his offensive performance is very stable. This is Rollins' fourth season in the NBA, and he has finally undergone a transformation.

Rollins averaged 16.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.0 steals per game this season, shooting 51.8% from the field, 42.2% from three-point range, and 85.0% from free throws. He averaged 2.1 three-pointers per game. No one expected that the former Warriors abandoner would evolve into an offensive and defensive point guard and become a new representative of high quality and low price this season.

Rollins' previous shortcoming was shooting. He had good athletic ability, fast speed, and sharp breakthroughs, but his three-point shooting rate in college was only 31.7%. In the 2022 draft, Rollins was selected by the Eagles with the 44th overall pick in the second round. That year, the Warriors traded Trayce Martin, the No. 51 pick, and cash from the Hawks for Rollins.

Rollins was only a marginal player in the Warriors' rookie season, playing only 12 games, averaging 5.2 minutes per game, 1.9 points, 1.0 rebounds and 0.5 assists. In the summer of 2023, the Warriors packaged Poole, Rollins, Baldwin and draft picks in exchange for Paul from the Wizards. The Wizards waived Rollins midway through the 2023-24 season.

The Bucks extended an olive branch in the middle of the 2023-24 season and signed Rollins on a two-way contract. In the summer of 2025, Rollins signed a three-year contract of US$12 million with the Bucks, and his annual salary this season is only US$4 million.

Judging from Rollins’ performance as the team’s second-leading scorer this season, this is really a cabbage-price contract. Rollins is currently only 23 years old. He is in the rising period of basketball players and can become the target of continued training by the Bucks.

Rollins showed that he is not afraid of playing against strong teams. On October 29, against the Eastern Conference powerhouse Knicks, he contributed 25 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 4 steals. Against the Warriors on October 31, he scored 32 points, 3 rebounds and 8 assists, and made 6 of 7 three-pointers. He played consecutive hot performances to help the Bucks defeat these two powerful teams.

On November 8, he scored 20+ points against the dark horse Bulls in the Eastern Conference, helping the Bucks defeat the Bulls. Rollins has become one of Antetokounmpo's most reliable helpers this season.

For Rollins, perhaps he has to thank the Warriors for trading him. If he continues to stay with the Warriors, he may not get the opportunity to rise as he does now. After all, the Warriors are not short of point guards. After being traded, laid off, and only able to get a two-way contract, Rollins cherishes the opportunity to play even more.

As his shooting ability improves, he has more room to display on the court. He has become a very qualified NBA starting point guard. As long as Rollins continues his current performance, even if Kevin Porter Jr. returns from injury this season, he will not be able to take away Rollins' starting position.