Milwaukee Bucks sign point guard Jazian Gortman

The Bucks add some young talent to their training camp roster.

The Milwaukee Bucks have added a young talented player to their training camp roster in Jazian Gortman, who the team signed to an Exhibit 10 deal. Gortman suited up for the Bucks’ Summer League squad last week and played alongside Chris Livingston and Andre Jackson Jr. Although the numbers he produced across five games weren’t eye-popping (4.8 points, 1 assist, and 0.8 rebounds), the Bucks’ decision-makers saw enough to give the 20-year-old a shot in training camp.

Highly touted out of high school, Gortman had an impressive career back then. Playing for Keenan in Columbia, South Carolina, the 6-foot-3 point guard averaged 23.1 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.3 steals per game and then signed on to play in the Overtime Elite. There, he suited up for the YNG Dreamers and tallied 13.9 points, 3.9 assists, 4.8 rebounds, and 2.5 steals per outing. However, he also committed 3.2 turnovers per game, which may have played a part in him going undrafted in the recent NBA Draft.

Can Gortman play backup point guard?

Though the most likely scenario is Gortman playing next season with the Bucks’ G League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd, the pathway toward a roster spot with the Bucks remains open, given that the squad still does not have a backup point guard. 

It remains to be seen how Gortman will do in training camp and the preseason, but he has the tools to be a good backup point guard in the NBA. Gortman’s ability to penetrate off the dribble could help open up space for shooters, while his defensive intensity could also come in handy on that end of the floor.