Milwaukee Bucks guard Ryan Rollins recently reflected on the difficult early chapter of his NBA career and how he managed to move past it.
In an interview with Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Rollins discussed the challenges he faced, including being waived by the Wizards in January 2024 around the same time he was charged with seven counts of petit larceny connected to shoplifting incidents.
Since then, Rollins has managed to rebuild both his reputation and his role in the league.
Now in his fourth NBA season, he has become one of Milwaukee’s key contributors and is even drawing attention as a possible Most Improved Player candidate.
His breakout campaign has featured averages of 16.8 points, 5.4 assists, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game while shooting .466 from the field, .411 from three-point range, and .761 from the free-throw line.
Rollins said he never doubted his own ability to perform at a high level in the NBA, explaining that what he needed most was the chance to prove himself and a coaching staff willing to be patient with his development.
“I always knew I was this good,” Rollins said. “I just needed the opportunity and needed a coach to trust me to be able to let me work through my mistakes and grow. I always knew my capabilities.”
Max Strus has begun participating in individual workouts, plus more from the Central Division. https://t.co/D745tJCIX6
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) March 5, 2026
