The Milwaukee Bucks have signed forward John Butler to a training camp deal, the team announced Friday, September 4.
Butler, 23, returns to the NBA after spending the 2025-26 season with the Wisconsin Herd, where he produced his most productive G League campaign. The 7-foot-1 forward averaged 9.4 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 49 games, while shooting 47.5% from the field and 36.3% from three-point range.
Butler also averaged 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks in 28.6 minutes per game for Wisconsin. His 36.3% three-point shooting represented an important perimeter component for a player of his size.
The Florida State product originally entered the NBA in 2022 after going undrafted. He appeared in 19 games for the Portland Trail Blazers as a rookie, averaging 2.4 points and 0.9 rebounds in 11.7 minutes per game while shooting 32.1% from the field.
Butler subsequently spent time with the Stockton Kings and Capital City Go-Go before establishing himself with the Wisconsin Herd. In six games with Stockton during the 2022-23 season, he averaged 8.3 points and 4.0 rebounds in 23.5 minutes per game.
His development continued in the G League with Capital City. Butler averaged 6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds in 47 games during the 2023-24 season before posting 7.4 points and 3.8 rebounds in 34 appearances the following year.
Butler’s 2025-26 campaign marked another step forward statistically. His 47.5% field-goal percentage was easily the best of his G League career, while his 84.1% free-throw shooting was also a career high.
The training camp opportunity comes as Milwaukee begins its first season without Giannis Antetokounmpo after trading the two-time MVP to the Miami Heat in June. The Bucks also sent Bobby Portis to Miami in the blockbuster deal and are now building around a significantly different roster.
Milwaukee went 32-50 in 2025-26, finishing 11th in the Eastern Conference and missing the playoffs. Giannis averaged 27.6 points, 9.8 rebounds and 5.4 assists in 36 games, while Kevin Porter Jr. and Ryan Rollins were the team’s next two leading scorers at 17.4 and 17.3 points per game, respectively.
The Bucks’ offseason has centered on Tyler Herro, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner and first-round pick Brayden Burries. Milwaukee also kept Ousmane Dieng, added Caris LeVert and other depth pieces while continuing its transition under new head coach Taylor Jenkins.
