There are a few common threads with who the Milwaukee Bucks drafted in the five seasons Mike Budenholzer was their head coach.

Let’s examine a few as this will be his first draft as head coach of the Phoenix Suns. The NBA Draft is this Wednesday and Thursday. The Suns hold the 22nd pick in the first round, their only pick in the draft.

The Bucks didn’t draft a foreign player under Budenholzer. Most of their draft picks either played college basketball or for the G League Ignite. The one who did go overseas before entering the draft was R.J. Hampton, a Dallas native who played one year for the New Zealand Breakers.


Suns Head Coach Mike Budenholzer speaks during a news conference at Footprint Center on May 17, 2024, in Phoenix.© Cheryl Evans/The Republic

Two of those collegiate choices – Donte DiVincenzo (17th overall, 2018, Villanova) and Jordan Nwora (45th overall, 2020, Louisville) were assigned to play for Milwaukee’s G League team, the Wisconsin Herd.

With the Suns having a G League team again, the Valley Suns, they have a head coach who is recently familiar with the G League.

The Bucks traded three selections on draft day or days afterward – Kevin Porter Jr. (30th overall, 2019, USC), Hampton (24th overall, 2020, NZ Breakers) and Isaiah Todd (31st overall, 2021, G League Ignite).

Moving Hampton to Denver was part of a four-team trade that brought in Jrue Holiday and Sam Merrill from New Orleans to Milwaukee. The Bucks won an NBA championship that season, beating the Suns in the 2021 finals, with Holiday being an X-factor. Holiday just captured his second NBA title this past season with the Boston Celtics.

Only one of Milwaukee’s draft picks under Budenholzer is still with the Bucks – MarJon Beauchamp (24th overall, 2022, G League Ignite). The 6-6 forward hasn’t been a major contributor in averaging 4.8 points in his two seasons with Milwaukee, but here’s an interesting side note.

With the Suns having a G League team again, the Valley Suns, they have a head coach who is recently familiar with the G League.

The Bucks traded three selections on draft day or days afterward – Kevin Porter Jr. (30th overall, 2019, USC), Hampton (24th overall, 2020, NZ Breakers) and Isaiah Todd (31st overall, 2021, G League Ignite).

Moving Hampton to Denver was part of a four-team trade that brought in Jrue Holiday and Sam Merrill from New Orleans to Milwaukee. The Bucks won an NBA championship that season, beating the Suns in the 2021 finals, with Holiday being an X-factor. Holiday just captured his second NBA title this past season with the Boston Celtics.

Only one of Milwaukee’s draft picks under Budenholzer is still with the Bucks – MarJon Beauchamp (24th overall, 2022, G League Ignite). The 6-6 forward hasn’t been a major contributor in averaging 4.8 points in his two seasons with Milwaukee, but here’s an interesting side note.