October 17: Green’s extension with the Bucks is now official, according to a team press release.
October 16: The Bucks and sharpshooter A.J. Green are in agreement on a four-year, $45MM contract extension, agent Matt Bollero tells ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). According to Charania, the deal is fully guaranteed.
Green, 26, joined the Bucks in 2022 as an undrafted free agent out of Northern Iowa. After playing a modest role in his first two seasons, he emerged as a consistent part of the team’s regular rotation in 2024/25, logging a career-high 22.7 minutes per game in 73 outings and averaging 7.4 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per night.
Green is a 6’4″ three-and-D wing with a career rate of 42.1% from beyond the arc, including 42.7% last season. The Bucks had a +6.4 net rating during his 1,659 minutes of action in ’24/25, compared to a -0.9 mark in the 2,292 minutes he didn’t play.
Because he was an undrafted free agent rather than a former first-round pick, Green was eligible for a veteran contract extension – not a rookie scale extension – as he entered the final year of his current contract with Milwaukee.
His salary of $2.3MM in 2025/26 is well below the NBA’s estimated average salary ($13.87MM). That meant he was eligible to receive a starting salary worth up to 40% of the estimated average salary on an extension, which worked out to a maximum of $87MM over four seasons.
However, as I wrote earlier this week when I identified Green as an under-the-radar extension candidate to watch, the Bucks were never likely to have to go nearly that high to retain him. I pointed to Sam Merrill‘s recent contract with Cleveland (four years, $38MM) as a reference point for Green and noted that he’s three years younger than Merrill and has been a more accurate shooter (albeit on a lower volume), so he had a case for an eight-figure annual salary.
Still, getting four guaranteed years at more than $11MM per season is a big win for Green — as ESPN’s Bobby Marks points out (via Twitter), his career earnings to date, including his salary for the coming season, total just $6.3MM.
Green is now just one of two Bucks players who is owed guaranteed money beyond the 2026/27 season, along with Myles Turner. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bobby Portis, Ryan Rollins, and Tyler Smith all have player or team options for ’27/28 on their respective deals.
GM is just asking to get fired.
NBA salaries are out of control. Bench guys getting 10 m a season…soon we will see one year 80m contracts because these people are what makes the world work
There are only 12 players who suit up for games. Any top 6-8 player on you roster is worth 8-16 mill.
Not sure he is though. Bucks must like him.
link to basketball-reference.com
This is a good deal for both Green and the BUCKS.
I like this kid, some toughness in him, aside from his shooting.
Look it up, mike.honcho: beginning of the offseason, I included AJ in my Giannis-to-Warriors trade scenarios. I knew…even in limited viewings. If it isn’t already, cat’s soon to be out of the bag/pet carrier with this kid.
Have liked this kid, since he started getting playing time from the BUCKS.
Unlike other similar shooters e.g. Duncan, Merrill, Hauser, etc he has a solid base, a bit more toughness in defense (like Strus).
Good value contract for the BUCKS.
Sam Hauser money…makes sense!
I never heard of this guy, and he’s getting paid. Wow.
Exactly. It’s a problem. These guys are getting toooooo much money
Lol, you sound jealous. Why is some NBA players getting paid market value “a problem”, according to you?
Wake up
He shot 43% from 3 in only his third season. Impressive.
Always like an undrafted guy getting paid. If you Don’t watch bucks a lot there is no need to comment on a backup getting 10m. Starters get 20+ all the time so bench at 10m with a nearly 200m cap is about right.