Cormac Ryan: Bucks Two-Way Guard Drops 25 vs Rockets

Cormac Ryan: The Undrafted Bucks Guard Who Stole the Spotlight Against the Rockets

On April 1, 2026, while most basketball fans were watching the Milwaukee Bucks take on the Houston Rockets, a relatively unknown name suddenly became the talk of the NBA world. Cormac Ryan, a 27-year-old undrafted guard on a two-way contract, dropped 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting in a 119-113 loss — and in doing so, turned countless heads and sent fans scrambling to find out: who exactly is Cormac Ryan?

His performance wasn't just statistically impressive. Ryan scored on Kevin Durant and nearly helped the depleted Bucks pull off a stunning upset against a legitimate playoff contender. For a player who had only appeared in five NBA games before that night, it was a coming-out party that demanded attention.

Who Is Cormac Ryan? A Background on the Bucks' Two-Way Guard

Cormac Ryan is a 6-foot-5 guard from New York who has taken one of the more winding paths to the NBA. Unlike many of his peers, Ryan didn't follow a straight line from high school to draft day. Instead, he played college basketball at three different programs — Stanford, Notre Dame, and North Carolina — accumulating experience and sharpening his game across multiple seasons.

Despite his college career, Ryan went undrafted in 2024. Rather than walking away from his NBA dream, he signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder organization and played for their G-League affiliate, using the developmental league as a proving ground. His persistence eventually paid off when the Milwaukee Bucks signed him to a two-way contract in the summer of 2025.

Two-way contracts allow players to split time between an NBA roster and their G-League affiliate. For Ryan, that affiliate was the Wisconsin Herd, where he averaged an eye-opening 20.4 points per game — numbers that clearly caught the Bucks' attention and earned him his shot at the highest level.

According to USA Today, Ryan's journey from undrafted prospect to surprise NBA performer is a story that resonates with anyone who has ever bet on themselves when no one else would.

The Night That Changed Everything: 25 Points Against the Rockets

April 1, 2026 will be a date Cormac Ryan remembers for the rest of his life. Facing the Houston Rockets — a team firmly in playoff contention — Ryan put together one of the most memorable performances by a two-way player in recent memory.

The final numbers: 25 points on 9-of-14 shooting, including 4-of-7 from three-point range. In a 119-113 Bucks loss, Ryan was far and away Milwaukee's most efficient offensive weapon. He attacked the basket with confidence, knocked down mid-range shots, and connected from deep — all while sharing the court with established NBA talent.

What made the performance even more remarkable was the context. The Bucks were shorthanded, leaning on a player who had appeared in just a handful of NBA games. Ryan didn't just fill a roster spot — he competed at a high level against a playoff-caliber opponent and made Kevin Durant work for every inch. The basketball world noticed immediately, and social media lit up with highlights and questions about the suddenly must-know guard.

From NCAA Tournament Hero to NBA Standout

If you dug deeper into Ryan's background after that Rockets game, you would have found that this wasn't the first time he delivered on a big stage. Back in 2022, Ryan was a key contributor for an 11th-seeded Notre Dame squad that made a memorable run in the NCAA Tournament.

In a stunning first-round upset over Alabama, Ryan scored 29 points, helping the Fighting Irish win 78-64. That performance announced him as a legitimate offensive threat at the college level, even if it didn't translate immediately into a professional opportunity.

There's also a fun bit of basketball trivia connected to that Notre Dame run. Ryan's older brother Thomas was a teammate of Paul Atkinson Jr. at Yale — and Atkinson hit the game-winning layup that sent Notre Dame to the tournament in the first place. Basketball clearly runs deep in the Ryan family.

That 2022 tournament showing demonstrated what Ryan is capable of when given minutes and trusted to perform. Four years later, the NBA is getting its first full look at a player who has been quietly building toward this moment.

Ryan's NBA Debut and Early Career With the Bucks

Cormac Ryan made his NBA debut on March 19, 2026, against the Utah Jazz. It was a milestone moment years in the making — and he wasted no time making an impression. Just 11 seconds after checking into the game, Ryan nailed a three-pointer for his first NBA points. That kind of instant impact is the stuff of highlight reels, and it suggested that Ryan wasn't going to be overwhelmed by the moment.

Despite the promising debut, the early results as a team have been tough. Ryan has now appeared in five NBA games for Milwaukee — and the Bucks have lost all five. That's a reflection of the team's overall struggles down the stretch of the season more than anything about Ryan's individual contributions, but it does add a bittersweet note to his emergence.

Still, for a player on a two-way deal who went completely undrafted, simply being in the rotation and contributing at a high level is a massive achievement. The 25-point game against Houston is the kind of performance that can turn a two-way contract into a full NBA deal — and that possibility is very much in play for Ryan going forward.

What Makes Cormac Ryan an Effective NBA Player?

Ryan's skill set translates well to the modern NBA game. At 6-foot-5, he has the size to play both guard positions and create mismatches. His shooting efficiency — particularly from three — is what stands out most on film. He's not a volume shooter who forces bad shots; he operates within the offense and makes the most of his looks.

His college career across multiple programs helped him develop a well-rounded offensive game. Playing at Stanford, Notre Dame, and North Carolina means he's been coached by different systems and forced to adapt, which often produces versatile players who can contribute in various ways at the next level.

His G-League numbers — 20.4 points per game with the Wisconsin Herd — suggest he's more than capable of scoring consistently when given the opportunity. The question for any two-way player making the leap is whether the skills translate against NBA-level competition. Based on the Houston game, the early answer is yes.

His ability to create off the dribble, shoot off the catch, and attack closeouts gives him multiple ways to score. Against the Rockets, he showed he could hurt defenses from the perimeter and at the basket — a combination that makes him difficult to guard with a single scheme.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cormac Ryan

How old is Cormac Ryan?

Cormac Ryan is 27 years old. He was born in New York and followed a non-traditional path through college and the G-League before reaching the NBA.

What contract does Cormac Ryan have with the Bucks?

Ryan is signed to a two-way contract with the Milwaukee Bucks, which allows him to play for both the Bucks and their G-League affiliate, the Wisconsin Herd. Two-way contracts are typically used for developmental players on the fringe of NBA rosters.

Where did Cormac Ryan go to college?

Ryan played college basketball at three programs: Stanford, Notre Dame, and North Carolina. His most notable college moment came in the 2022 NCAA Tournament when he scored 29 points to help Notre Dame upset Alabama.

Was Cormac Ryan ever drafted by an NBA team?

No. Cormac Ryan went undrafted in 2024. He subsequently signed with the Oklahoma City Thunder organization and played in their G-League affiliate before eventually landing with the Milwaukee Bucks.

How many NBA games has Cormac Ryan played?

As of April 1, 2026, Ryan has appeared in five NBA games for the Milwaukee Bucks, including his debut on March 19, 2026 against the Utah Jazz. The Bucks have lost all five games in which he appeared.

Conclusion: A Story Worth Following

Cormac Ryan's 25-point performance against the Houston Rockets on April 1, 2026 was more than just a box score line — it was a statement from a player who has refused to accept that the undrafted label defines his ceiling. From scoring 29 points in the NCAA Tournament to grinding through the G-League, to hitting a three-pointer 11 seconds into his NBA debut, Ryan has consistently shown up when given the opportunity.

Whether he converts his two-way deal into a permanent NBA roster spot remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: Cormac Ryan has earned the right to be taken seriously. The basketball world now knows his name, and if the Rockets game is any indication, this is only the beginning of a story that's well worth following.

For more on Ryan's rise, read the full profile at USA Today's feature on the breakout Bucks guard.