Arizona guard Brayden Burries, selected by the Milwaukee Bucks as the 10th pick of the NBA draft on Tuesday night, became the Wildcats’ 18th lottery selection, according to information from Arizona’s media-relations department.
He is the third lottery pick coached by Tommy Lloyd, who completed his fifth season at Arizona. Burries joins Bennedict Mathurin (sixth pick overall in 2022 by the Indiana Pacers) and Carter Bryant (14th pick by the San Antonio Spurs).
To put that in perspective, it took Lute Olson 12 seasons to accumulate three lottery picks at Arizona (Sean Elliott in 1989, Brian Williams in 1991 and Damon Stoudamire in 1995). Olson took over a destitute program and turned it into an NBA factory. Arizona had only 27 NBA draft picks when Olson arrived in 1983. Burries is Arizona’s 81st NBA draft pick — that’s 54 picks in 43 years.
Sean Miller reached three lottery picks in his first six years at Arizona (Derrick Williams in 2011, Aaron Gordon in 2014 and Stanley Johnson in 2015).
Welcome to Milwaukee, Brayden Burries! pic.twitter.com/WFT3U5XJYU
— Milwaukee Bucks (@Bucks) June 24, 2026
It is the first time Arizona has featured lottery picks in consecutive years since 2017 and 2018, when Lauri Markkanen was picked No. 7 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2017 and Deandre Ayton was the No. 1 overall selection by the Phoenix Suns in 2018.
“I want to take care of my family,” Burries told ESPN’s Lisa Salters after his selection. “I want to inspire the younger generation that’s next to come, and also I want to be something that’s bigger than myself, just try to be the best version of myself each and every day.”
Burries is the second Arizona player selected by the Bucks, the first in 50 years (Jim Rappis was taken in the fifth round by Milwaukee in 1976). Roger Johnson was chosen by the Milwaukee Hawks (now the Atlanta Hawks) in 1952.
Burries shared the moment at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., with Lloyd and his family, including his parents Bobby and Hannah.
Bobby played college basketball at San Bernardino (Calif.) Valley College and Cal State San Bernardino, where he earned All-American honors and was inducted into the school’s athletic hall of fame. Hannah played collegiate softball at Tennessee before playing a season of college basketball at Cal State San Bernardino.
“He (Burries’ dad) grew up playing basketball, same with my mom, and I just want to make sure that they know that they can live through me and I can make them happy every single day,” Brayden said.
“I want to be something that’s bigger than myself.”
Brayden Burries on what this moment means to him pic.twitter.com/t1ZEAXn5zo
— PHNX Wildcats (@PHNX_Wildcats) June 24, 2026
His parents told Salter they are impressed with their son’s work ethic.
“He put a lot of hard work in, a lot of sacrifice,” Bobby said. “He could have went down the wrong way, and not listen. He is really respectful, great character, and we really appreciate it.”
Hannah added that the Bucks are getting a player “with a lot of integrity, who is a hard worker, who is dedicated, honest, and has great character. He’s going to give his all out there.”
Brayden Burries Bio
- Position: Shooting Guard / Combo Guard
- Height: 6-foot-4
- Weight: 215 pounds
- Hometown: San Bernardino, Calif.
- High School: Roosevelt High School
- College: Arizona
- Recruiting Profile: Five-star recruit, McDonald’s All-American, ranked No. 12 nationally in the Class of 2025 by ESPN.
Freshman Season at Arizona (2025-26)
Burries emerged as Arizona’s leading scorer while helping the Wildcats reach the Final Four.
Season averages (39 games):
- 16.1 points
- 4.9 rebounds
- 2.4 assists
- 1.5 steals
- 49.1% FG
- 39.1% 3FG
- 80.5% FT
Honors
- All-Big 12 First Team
- Big 12 All-Freshman Team
- AP and USBWA Honorable Mention All-American
- Jerry West Shooting Guard of the Year Award finalist
- Big 12 Tournament All-Tournament Team selection
Scouting Report
Strengths
- Strong, NBA-ready frame for a guard.
- Efficient three-point shooter.
- Can play on or off the ball.
- Physical defender capable of guarding either backcourt position.
- High basketball IQ and mature decision-making.
- Contributes in multiple areas beyond scoring.
Areas for Improvement
- Not considered an elite explosive athlete.
- More of a secondary playmaker than a primary point guard.
- Some scouts would like to see greater shot-creation consistency against top-level defenders.
ARIZONA TOTAL NBA DRAFT PICKS (81)
Information provided by Arizona media relations department
FRED ENKE ERA
Player/Round/Pick/Year/Team
1. Morris Udall 1948 Denver Nuggets (NBL)
2. Lincoln Richmond 1948 Ft. Wayne Pistons
3. Leon Blevins 7/79 1950 Indianapolis Olympians
4. Leo Johnson 5/44 1951 Ft. Wayne Pistons
5. Roger Johnson 1952 Milwaukee Hawks
6. Ernie McCray 17/95 1960 Cincinnati Royals
BRUCE LARSON ERA
Player/Round/Pick/Year/Team
7. Warren Rustand 4/31 1965 San Francisco Warriors
8. Bill Davis 12/160 1968 Phoenix Suns
9. Michael Foster 1970 Indiana Pacers (ABA)
10. Tom Lee 9/147 1971 Philadelphia 76ers
11. Eddie Myers 10/160 1971 Baltimore Bullets & 1971 Miami Floridians (ABA)
12. Bill Warner 11/170 1971 Buffalo Braves & 1971 New York Nets (ABA)
13. Bruce Anderson 7/101 1972 Detroit Pistons
FRED SNOWDEN ERA
Player/Round/Pick/Year/Team
14. Eric Money 2/33 1974 Detroit Pistons & 1974 Denver Nuggets (ABA)
15. Coniel Norman 3/37 1974 Philadelphia 76ers & 1974 Denver Nuggets (ABA)
16. Al Fleming 2/30 1976 Phoenix Suns
17. James Rappis 5/77 1976 Milwaukee Bucks
18. Bob Elliott 2/42 1977 Philadelphia 76ers
19. Herman Harris 2/43 1977 Philadelphia 76ers
20. Jerome Gladney 8/164 1977 San Antonio Spurs
21. Phil Taylor 10/198 1978 Denver Nuggets
22. Larry Demic 1/9 1979 New York Knicks
23. Joe Nehls 7/152 1980 Houston Rockets
24. Ron Davis 4/79 1981 Washington Bullets
25. Robbie Dosty 6/148 1981 Golden State Warriors
26. Frank Smith 8/177 1983 Portland Trailblazers
27. *Leon Wood 1/10 1984 Philadelphia 76ers
LUTE OLSON ERA
Player/Round/Pick/Year/Team
28. Pete Williams 4/89 1985 Denver Nuggets
29. Eddie Smith 7/158 1985 Denver Nuggets
30. Tom Tolbert 2/34 1988 Charlotte Hornets
31. Steve Kerr 2/50 1988 Phoenix Suns
32. Sean Elliott 1/3 1989 San Antonio Spurs
33. Anthony Cook 1/24 1989 Phoenix Suns
34. Jud Buechler 2/38 1990 Seattle SuperSonics
35. Brian Williams 1/10 1991 Orlando Magic
36. Sean Rooks 2/30 1992 Dallas Mavericks
37. Chris Mills 1/22 1993 Cleveland Cavaliers
38. Ed Stokes 2/35 1993 Miami Heat
39. Khalid Reeves 1/12 1994 Miami Heat
40. Damon Stoudamire 1/7 1995 Toronto Raptors
41. Joseph Blair 2/35 1996 Seattle Supersonics
42. Ben Davis 2/43 1996 Phoenix Suns
43. Reggie Geary 2/56 1996 Cleveland Cavaliers
44. Mike Bibby 1/ 2 1998 Vancouver Grizzlies
45. Michael Dickerson 1/14 1998 Houston Rockets
46. Miles Simon 2/42 1998 Orlando Magic
47. Jason Terry 1/10 1999 Atlanta Hawks
48. A.J. Bramlett 2/39 1999 Cleveland Cavaliers
49. Richard Jefferson 1/13 2001 Houston Rockets
50. Gilbert Arenas 2/31 2001 Golden State Warriors
51. Michael Wright 2/39 2001 New York Knicks
52. Loren Woods 2/46 2001 Minnesota Timberwolves
53. *Robertas Javtokas 2/56 2001 San Antonio Spurs
54. Luke Walton 2/32 2003 Los Angeles Lakers
55. Andre Iguodala 1/9 2004 Philadelphia 76ers
56. Channing Frye 1/8 2005 New York Knicks
57. Salim Stoudamire 2/31 2005 Atlanta Hawks
58. Hassan Adams 2/54 2006 New Jersey Nets
59. Marcus Williams 2/33 2007 San Antonio Spurs
KEVIN O’NEILL YEAR
Player/Round/Pick/Year/Team
60. Jerryd Bayless 1/11 2008 Indiana Pacers
RUSS PENNELL YEAR
Player/Round/Pick/Year/Team
61. Jordan Hill 1/8 2009 New York Knicks
62. Chase Budinger 2/44 2009 Detroit Pistons
SEAN MILLER ERA
Player/Round/Pick/Year/Team
63. Derrick Williams 1/2 2011 Minnesota Timberwolves
64. Solomon Hill 1/23 2013 Indiana Pacers
65. Grant Jerrett 2/40 2013 Portland Trail Blazers
66. Aaron Gordon 1/4 2014 Orlando Magic
67. Nick Johnson 2/42 2014 Houston Rockets
68. Stanley Johnson 1/8 2015 Detroit Pistons
69. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 1/23 2015 Portland Trail Blazers
70. Lauri Markkanen 1/7 2017 Minnesota Timberwolves
71. Kadeem Allen 2/53 2017 Boston Celtics
72. Deandre Ayton 1/1 2018 Phoenix Suns
73. Josh Green 1/18 2020 Dallas Mavericks
74. Zeke Nnaji 1/22 2020 Denver Nuggets
75. Nico Mannion 2/48 2020 Golden State Warriors
TOMMY LLOYD ERA
Player/Round/Pick/Year/Team
76. Bennedict Mathurin 1/6 2022 Indiana Pacers
77. Dalen Terry 1/18 2022 Chicago Bulls
78. Christian Koloko 2/33 2022 Toronto Raptors
79. Pelle Larsson 2/44 2024 Atlanta Hawks
80. Carter Bryant 1/14 2025 San Antonio Spurs
81. Brayden Burries 1/10 2026 Milwaukee Bucks
* Played at Arizona as a freshman before transferring
ARIZONA’S FIRST ROUND DRAFT PICKS (29)
Player/Selection/Year/Team
1. Larry Demic 9 1979 New York Knicks
2. *Leon Wood 10 1984 Philadelphia 76ers
3. ^Sean Elliott 3 1989 San Antonio Spurs
4. Anthony Cook 24 1989 Phoenix Suns
5. ^Brian Williams 10 1991 Orlando Magic
6. Chris Mills 22 1993 Cleveland Cavaliers
7. Khalid Reeves 12 1994 Miami Heat
8. ^Damon Stoudamire 7 1995 Toronto Raptors
9. ^Mike Bibby 2 1998 Vancouver Grizzlies
10. Michael Dickerson 14 1998 Houston Rockets
11. ^Jason Terry 10 1999 Atlanta Hawks
12. ^Richard Jefferson 13 2001 Houston Rockets
13. ^Andre Iguodala 9 2004 Philadelphia 76ers
14. ^Channing Frye 8 2005 New York Knicks
15. ^Jerryd Bayless 11 2008 Indiana Pacers
16. ^Jordan Hill 8 2009 New York Knicks
17. ^Derrick Williams 2 2011 Minnesota Timberwolves
18. Solomon Hill 23 2013 Indiana Pacers
19. ^Aaron Gordon 4 2014 Orlando Magic
20. ^Stanley Johnson 8 2015 Detroit Pistons
21. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson 23 2015 Portland Trail Blazers
22. ^Lauri Markkanen 7 2017 Minnesota Timberwolves
23. ^Deandre Ayton 1 2018 Phoenix Suns
24. Josh Green 18 2020 Dallas Mavericks
25. Zeke Nnaji 22 2020 Denver Nuggets
26. ^Bennedict Mathurin 6 2022 Indiana Pacers
27. Dalen Terry 18 2022 Chicago Bulls
28. ^Carter Bryant 14 2025 San Antonio Spurs
29. ^Brayden Burries 10 2026 Milwaukee Bucks
* Played at Arizona as a freshman before transferring.
^ Lottery pick
NBA DRAFT PICKS BY EACH BIG 12 SCHOOL
Team/Total/Picks/Most Recent
Kansas 94 Darryn Peterson (2026 – 2nd overall)
Arizona 81 Brayden Burries (2026 – 10th overall)
Cincinnati 55 Jacob Evans (2018 – 28th overall)
Kansas State 52 Keyontae Johnson (2023 – 50th overall)
Houston 48 Kingston Flemings (2026 – 8th overall)
BYU 45 AJ Dybantsa (2026 – 1st overall)
Utah 43 Kyle Kuzma (2017 – 27th overall)
Arizona State 43 Josh Christopher (2021 – 24th overall)
Iowa State 42 Tyrese Haliburton (2020 – 12th overall)
West Virginia 42 Javon Small (2025 – 48th overall)
Oklahoma State 39 Cade Cunningham (2021 – 1st overall)
Colorado 39 Cody Williams (2024 – 10th overall), Tristan da Silva (2024 – 18th), KJ Simpson (2024 – 42nd)
Baylor 29 Cameron Carr (2026 – 24th overall)
Texas Tech 27 Christian Anderson (2026 – 18th overall)
TCU 19 Desmond Bane (2020 – 30th overall)
Central Florida 3 Taylor Hendricks (2023 – 9th overall)
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