The Milwaukee Bucks made a swift move on October 6, adjusting their training camp roster by bringing in big man Johni Broome and waiving John Butler Jr. This all went down after a practice on the sixth, right before the team packed up to head to Oklahoma City for their second preseason game on October 7. It’s a classic training camp shuffle, but Broome’s journey to this moment is anything but typical, and it raises some serious questions.
Former 76er’s NBA Struggles Are Real
Let’s talk about Broome’s brief stint in the league so far. This 6-foot-10, 24-year-old was the No. 35 pick in the 2025 draft, snagged by Philadelphia. He only got into 11 games with the 76ers, and his numbers? Yikes. He shot a dismal 16.7% from the field and just 33% from the free throw line. From behind the arc, he was 0-for-5. You can’t sugarcoat those numbers, they scream “struggle.” For a big man to be that inefficient in limited minutes, it’s a huge hurdle to overcome if he wants to stick.
G League Monster or NBA Mismatch?
But here’s where it gets interesting, and where the Bucks are probably taking a calculated risk. Broome spent the majority of last season absolutely tearing it up in the G League with the Delaware Blue Coats. In 26 games, he was a force, averaging 21.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks in over 32 minutes per game. That’s dominant stuff. And it’s not just offense, he’s got a history of blocking shots, averaging 2.5 blocks per game in college across his time at Morehead State (2020-22) and Auburn (2022-25). So, which Johni Broome are the Bucks getting: the G League monster, or the guy who couldn’t find his shot in the NBA?
Butler, the guy waived, hadn’t even suited up for the Bucks’ preseason opener against Minnesota on October 5, though he did play in five summer league games and 49 G League games with the Wisconsin Herd last season. Now, all eyes are on Broome. Can he translate those impressive G League numbers into something meaningful on an NBA court, starting with that second preseason game tomorrow? The Bucks are clearly looking for something, and Broome’s next chance to show it is right around the corner.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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