Bucks’ summer-league review: What we saw from Tyler Smith, Chris Livingston and more

The NBA's Las Vegas Summer League concluded with the Charlotte Hornets winning the championship and Kon Knueppel, the 2025 No. 4 draft pick, earning MVP honors.

The Milwaukee Bucks finished their summer league with a 1-4 record after losing their final game 93-92 to the Miami Heat. This followed an opening win secured by Jamaree Bouyea's buzzer-beating three-pointer. Despite lacking a first-round draft pick or significant hype, the Bucks sent seven players from their NBA roster to participate.

The review focused on forward Tyler Smith. Bucks coaches challenged him defensively during summer league, specifically assigning him to pressure ball-handlers full court, like Cavaliers player Nae'qwan Tomlin, to aid his development. With limited NBA playing time in his rookie season (23 games, 122 minutes) and a veteran-heavy roster likely ahead of him, finding ways to contribute beyond scoring is crucial for Smith.

Smith acknowledged his focus on impacting games without relying on his jump shot, emphasizing defense, full-court pressure, rebounding, offensive boards, and effort. While he struggled offensively in summer league (averaging 9.8 points on 20.7% three-point shooting), his willingness to experiment with a wing role instead of solely playing as a big man demonstrated necessary maturity. He recognizes that making shots – considered his most NBA-ready skill – remains essential.

Smith faces a clear developmental path: improving as a rebounder and defender to succeed as a floor-stretching big man, or enhancing his perimeter defense if transitioning to the wing. The summer league provided important reps for these areas, and continued work will be vital next season, even if he starts outside the main rotation under coach Doc Rivers.