The sell for this year’s 47th pick, featuring exclusive quotes from an interview with Markovič
The Milwaukee Bucks’ Bogoljub Markovič, the 47th pick of the 2025 draft, is officially staying in Serbia for the 2025–26 season. This is disappointing news for those who wanted Milwaukee to bring in an NBA-ready rookie. People are already losing hope that he’ll ever suit up for the Bucks, calling him the next Hugo Besson. If you’re in that boat, then pump the brakes and hear me out. I’m certain that Markovič will eventually become an impact player for this team, and I’m going to tell you why you should feel the same way.
At NBA Summer League in Las Vegas, I got the opportunity to speak one-on-one with Bogi, and his demeanor really stood out. He has plenty of belief in himself, but it’s a humble, measured type of confidence, where you can tell he really has a grasp on where he’s at as a player and what it will take for him to succeed. On top of that, he deeply understands the game of basketball and how it’s played in the NBA. Remember that one time Milwaukee drafted a young foreign kid with a modest and driven mindset? That guy is now the greatest player in franchise history.
While there are some parallels between Markovič and Giannis Antetokounmpo, the newest Buck actually models his game after a different MVP. “I would like to play like (Nikola) Jokic, maybe (Lauri) Markkanen,” he said. “Do I have enough talent for that? We’ll see.”
The influence of both European All-Stars is evident in Markovič’s game. The 20-year-old is a sharpshooter with an impressive combination of size and fluid movement, so it’s easy to project him to become a jumbo off-ball weapon on offense like Lauri Markkanen. In a post-draft article, I likened Bogi to Chet Holmgren and Kyle Filipowski, two guys who also fit that mold. Unlike Markkanen, though, he’s an advanced passer for his position, and that’s how the Jokic imprint shines through. Markovič is unselfish with a team-first mindset, and he has the instincts and IQ to make the right reads and set up his allies.
“First off, the whole team has to have one same idea. When we get that done, for me, I’m talented enough to just read it naturally, I don’t think too much. It’s just about the team having one idea,” he said about how he reads the floor to make plays. “Obviously, when you have different teammates, they have different ideas. So if I know a player well, if he likes to cut, or if he likes to stay at the three-pointer, it makes my job easier.”
The concept of memorizing the tendencies of teammates in order to find them up in their spots is very point-guardish. Once again, Nikola Jokic’s influence on Bogi is unmistakable. However, despite hailing from the same Serbian basketball club as the three-time MVP, Markovič hasn’t had much contact with the Joker. The Mega Basket ties definitely run deep, though, as he said he’s spoken with Nikola Đurišić, Nikola Topic, and Nikola Jovic, and mentioned he spent some time hanging out with Đurišić (who is on the Hawks) during Summer League. On his impression of Las Vegas, and America in general, Bogi said, “it’s cool. It’s a bit fun, but I’m not here for anything other than basketball, so I don’t care. Maybe someday, if I come back without any basketball games, it’s going to be a lot more fun. But right now, I don’t pay attention.”
Markovič is a focused, hard-working hoopshead. He loves the game, he’s wanted to be in the NBA since he was nine, and he’s willing to grind to become the best player he can be. His drive, self-reflection, and brains were all clicking when he spoke about his defense, which will likely be his swing skill. He says he’s most comfortable hedging and recovering against screens when he’s playing center, the coverage he primarily runs for Mega Basket. “We’ve done it a lot. I’ve practiced it a lot. With my quick feet, that is the most efficient [thing] I can do, but I’m open for anything coach wants me to do.”
In the NBA, Bogi will likely slot in as more of a four than a five, as his perimeter-oriented skillset and thinner frame make him more suited for that spot. On his ability to play the power forward, he said that the “NBA is the best league in the world. On both positions, at every defensive coverage I have to get better at. Stronger and quicker feet. So what I can do and what I can do now, it’s two different things. But at the four, I also think I can play.”
“What I can do and what I can do now, it’s two different things” is a simple but unbelievably wise description of what potential actually represents in basketball conversations. Bogi can become a multi-talented defender, and he knows it, but he must improve significantly to get there. The same thing can be said about him being a good player in this league, and if you aren’t sold on that yet, consider this: on July 12th, Markovič turned 20 years old, meaning in three years, he’ll be 23. For reference, that’s how old Andre Jackson Jr. is right now. Think about how much growth he could do in a three-season span, and then how he would still just be 23 after.
Yes, Markovič is something like an unsolved 1000-piece puzzle right now. However, the picture on the box is incredible, and both he and the Bucks organization are ready to put together the pieces. It may take some time, but eventually, Bogoljub Markovič could be an important contributor to this team. And considering his talent and motivation, the only thing that could stop him from reaching that point is if people give up on him. The bottom line? Believe in Bogi.