Herro Responds to Contract Year: Renewal Shouldn't Be a Burden; Every Bucks Player Has a Chip on Their Shoulder

On August 9, Beijing time, new Bucks player Tyler Herro said that although he is playing for his hometown team, he is not bothered by his contract status or its implications for his future.

Herro is a native of Milwaukee and graduated from Whitnall High School in Greenfield. In this trade, Giannis Antetokounmpo, a two-time MVP and nine-time All-NBA forward, was sent to the Heat, while Herro moved to the Bucks.

The 26-year-old guard has one year left on his contract. If he cannot reach an extension, he will become an unrestricted free agent after the 2026-27 season.

"I'm not too worried about it right now," Herro said at his own youth basketball camp. "For me, the coaching staff, and the whole team, everything is a fresh start. I don't think it should be a burden for anyone."

Since news broke in June that Herro would head to Milwaukee as part of the Giannis trade, his future has been a topic of speculation. The Bucks also acquired Jaquez, Ware, Jakucionis, and draft assets including the 2026 13th pick (Ament selection). The Bucks' current roster is heavily skewed toward the guard position.

The Bucks used the 10th pick in this year's draft to select Braden Burris from the University of Arizona, another shooting guard. The two highest-scoring players remaining from last season are both guards: Kevin Porter Jr. (38 games, 17.4 ppg) and Ryan Rollins (74 games, 17.3 ppg).

Herro spent his first seven seasons with the Miami Heat. Plagued by injuries in the 2025-26 season, he played only 33 games and is eager to bounce back strongly. Over the past five seasons, Herro has averaged over 20 points per game each year and was an All-Star in 2025.

After trading away the most influential player in franchise history, the Bucks are in a transition phase. Last season, they went 32-50, ending a nine-year playoff streak. New head coach Taylor Jenkins takes over a heavily revamped roster.

"Coming to Milwaukee, I might have the strongest drive of my career, a chip on my shoulder," Herro said. "We've been through a lot. Coming here, it's a new chapter, a new team, new management, new coaching staff... Everyone on the team has a chip on their shoulder. Coach Jenkins himself has it, and so do the teammates who came over with me in the trade. It's not just me; I think every single person on this team has something to prove."

This drive stems from the fact that the entire league is skeptical about what this team, without Giannis, can achieve.

"Obviously, a lot of people think we won't win many games, but we think the opposite," Herro said. "We want to win as many games as possible and establish our team culture from day one."

Herro has been a Bucks fan since childhood. When talking about the stars he admired growing up, he mentioned T.J. Ford, who will be an assistant coach on Jenkins' staff.

"I remember T.J. Ford, Michael Redd, Andrew Bogut," Herro said. "I could keep going: Monta Ellis, Brandon Jennings, and then Giannis. Now, it's time for our new generation to start its journey."