Milwaukee Bucks And Mark Sears Are A Great Pairing

Forbes

2 days ago

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Mark Sears #1 of the Alabama Crimson Tide celebrates after a ... More three point basket during the second half against the Clemson Tigers in the Elite 8 round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Crypto.com Arena on March 30, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by)
The Milwaukee Bucks wasted no time after the 2025 NBA Draft wrapped up Thursday night, quickly scooping up Alabama guard Mark Sears on a two-way deal.
Earlier in the night, the Bucks used their lone draft pick on Serbian big man Bogoljub Markovic at No. 47 overall—a high-upside swing that's more long game than immediate help, as Markovic will remain overseas next season.
That makes Sears the real rookie prize heading into 2025-26.
Soon, Milwaukee won't have a healthy point guard under contract. Damian Lillard is rehabbing a torn Achilles that's expected to sideline him for most (if not all) of next year. Kevin Porter Jr. is likely opting out of his player option, and Ryan Rollins is a restricted free agent.
Even if they manage to bring back both Porter Jr. and Rollins, adding Sears gives the Bucks a reliable fallback plan. He may be on a two-way contract, but we've seen the Bucks turn those into real opportunities in the very recent past.
Sears is no rookie to big moments—he played five seasons of college ball, the first two at Ohio and the last three at Alabama. He was a consensus All-American in both of the last two years and averaged 18.6 points, 5.1 assists, and 2.9 rebounds as a super senior.
Transitioning to the pros should come fairly smooth for him. He already ran an NBA-style offense at Alabama and thrived in it.
The biggest knock on his game is his size. Sears stands 6-foot-1, 183 pounds, and never bulked up much during his college run. But he makes up for it with a sharp basketball IQ, tight handles, and elite footwork. He's crafty with the ball, knows how to slice through defenses, and can get to his spots with ease.
His elite ball-handling skills allow him to get to anywhere on the court he wants. This gives him an advantage to slice up the defense for his own buckets or create open looks for his teammates.
What really sets him apart is his jumper. He's most dangerous off the catch, which could pair beautifully next to Giannis Antetokounmpo, drawing defenders in and kicking it out to Sears for open threes.
Defensively, he's not going to lock guys down, but he's no slouch either. He competes, slides his feet reasonably well, and has quick hands that help rack up steals. His effort level will be key on that end of the floor.
Milwaukee needed another ball-handler heading into a pivotal offseason, and Sears fits the bill.
While Markovic is a long-term investment, Sears has a shot to make noise in Year 1. If he shines during Summer League and camp, that two-way deal could turn into something more permanent before long.
For the Bucks and Sears, this feels like a natural pairing—a win-win with room to grow.