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In a thrilling preseason contest on Wednesday night, the Milwaukee Bucks narrowly defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder 128-126, thanks in part to a standout performance from rookie guard Brayden Burries.
Milwaukee chose Burries with the 10th overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft following his collegiate career at the University of Arizona. His showing in this game provided an early look at the talent that made him such an appealing addition to the organization.
Coming off the bench, Burries contributed 16 points, five rebounds, one assist, and two steals in 21 minutes of action.
Although the rookie struggled with his outside shot early, he made adjustments after halftime and connected on 3 of 6 attempts from the field in the second half.
Instead of relying on jumpers, Burries aggressively attacked the rim, forcing defenders to react and consistently drawing fouls on his drives.
The Bucks rookie made his most significant impact in the final quarter, pouring in 10 points to help Milwaukee secure the close win.
He also shot 6 for 8 from the free-throw line and delivered crucial baskets as the game hung in the balance.
Following the game, Bucks head coach Taylor Jenkins commended the rookie's calm demeanor in high-pressure situations.
"Yeah, I mean, I think he's just shown a knack," Jenkins remarked. "In the brief time that we've been with him, he kind of relishes those moments. I don't think he gets sped up. He's finding his endurance, he's finding the energy store that he's got to have, especially in those fourth-quarter moments. It's really encouraging for a young guard to kind of play with that poise and to be able to face a lot of different coverages and still be able to beat it and then make the correct play more often than not. For a young guard, Brayden did a really good job tonight."
Burries gave Milwaukee an early reason to believe he could become a valuable piece of Taylor Jenkins' plans. His late-game production against the Thunder demonstrated a willingness to shoulder responsibility in tight situations, a promising sign for a Bucks team working to establish its identity this season.
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Originally reported by yahoo.