Connaughton Stays with Bucks for Another Season

MILWAUKEE: The Milwaukee Bucks have announced that shooting guard Pat Connaughton has chosen to exercise his player option for the 2025–26 NBA season. This decision secures him a $9.4 million contract for what will be his sixth year with the team, according to various international reports on Saturday.

Sources indicate that the experienced guard has continued to be an important component of the Bucks’ lineup, even amidst a challenging season. Connaughton initially inked a three-year, $28.5 million extension back in 2022, with a deadline of Tuesday to decide on exercising the final year of his option.

During the 2024–25 season, Connaughton’s performance included averages of 5.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.7 assists across 41 games, with only one start.

His average playtime decreased to 14.7 minutes per game, marking the lowest duration in his seven-year career.

Notably, his three-point shooting accuracy fell to 32.1 percent, representing a career low since his initial season in 2015–16.

Originally selected by the Brooklyn Nets in the second round of the 2015 NBA Draft, Connaughton was subsequently traded to the Portland Trail Blazers on the same night.

He participated in 155 games over three seasons with Portland, where he averaged 3.7 points and 1.6 rebounds.

Connaughton joined the Bucks as a free agent in August 2018 and played a significant role in Milwaukee’s 2020–21 NBA Championship victory.

Throughout his 595 NBA games, which include 72 starts, he holds career averages of 6.0 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.4 assists per game.

With Connaughton’s decision to opt in, Milwaukee’s current payroll commitment for the upcoming season amounts to approximately $171 million. This figure is contingent upon Bobby Portis’ decision regarding his player option, valued at $13.44 million.