The Milwaukee Bucks are bringing back one of their trusted veterans.
According to ESPN, Pat Connaughton has officially exercised his $9.4 million player option for the 2025–26 NBA season, keeping the sharpshooting wing in Milwaukee for at least one more year.
Connaughton, now a seasoned piece of the Bucks’ rotation, has carved out a consistent role as a high-energy, defensive-minded guard who can knock down open threes and bring playoff toughness. Though he’s not a star on the stat sheet, he’s been a glue guy — the kind of player every contending team needs.
In the 2024–25 season, Connaughton averaged:
- 6.4 points
- 3.1 rebounds
- 1.3 assists
- 41.8% shooting from three over his last 20 games
He’s also one of the longest-tenured Bucks, having been with the team since 2018, and played a vital bench role during Milwaukee’s 2021 championship run.
As the Bucks continue reshaping their roster around Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, Connaughton’s return provides continuity, spacing, and locker room leadership.
Smart move by both sides — and one that shows Milwaukee is still locked in on contending.
