Milwaukee Bucks fans were not expecting that much with their 47th pick. They could not trade up with it and the best thing the team can do is looking for someone who can play now instead of someone who they will still need to develop.
Milwaukee Bucks
That’s not what happened.
“I’m just super glad to be here, blessed, and I’m ready to get to work.” pic.twitter.com/Pt32YHmv9q
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) June 27, 2025
The Bucks selected relatively unknown Bogoljub Markovic who is a Serbian 6’11 forward and played professionally in the Serbian pro club Mega Basket which is also the former team of three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic.
General manager Jon Horst and the rest of the front office already went this route last year when they selected a project player in AJ Johnson, a point guard who is still raw but go a lot of promise. In the end, they traded him away to the Washington Wizards.
USATSI 24516162
Oct 17, 2024; Dallas, Texas, USA; Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Johnson (77) dribbles during the second half against the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images
Some Bucks fans are surprised with their selection.
Again, it’s the 47th pick, I won’t throw a fit.
But I just don’t understand the draft process they have. Taking these HUGE projects when you need help now and have a really bad track record of player development. I just don’t get it at all.
— Nathan Marzion (@nathanmarzion) June 27, 2025
Get to know Milwaukee Bucks’ rookie
Markovic may be unknown to many but his experience might be his best asset. He played professionally in Serbia already and averaged averaged 17.9 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 2023. He was the Adriatic Basketball Association’s rebounding leader in that year and made it to the first-team All-League honors.
However, his comparison is not that promising. Bleacher Report said his ceiling is Aleksej Pokusevski, a fellow Serbian who is now out of the league at 23 years old.
Milwaukee Bucks, Jon Horst, Doc Rivers
Jan 27, 2024; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Doc Rivers speaks at a press conference with general manager Jon Horst as Rivers is introduced as the new head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks at the Fiserv Forum. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
His strength is his shooting and post offense, something that is common among Europeans and one can say is also in the mold of Jokic who is also a second round pick.
However, what he lacks the most is his athleticism and defense.
The Bucks have a history of drafting Europeans in recent drafts. They drafted Sandro Mamukelashvili and Georgios Kalaitzakis in 2021 – 54th and 60th, respectively – and both spent just a couple season with the team.
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