Scouting Report for Milwaukee Bucks Undrafted Free Agent Signing Mark Sears
The Milwaukee Bucks have signed free agent Mark Sears after he went undrafted in the 2025 NBA draft.
Few guards in this year's draft class will enter the league with a better combination of experience, skill and confidence than Sears. The 23-year-old is one of the more NBA-ready backcourt options, having completed five college seasons across two programs (Ohio, Alabama).
After a strong three-year run with the Crimson Tide, Sears finished his college career as a 2025 consensus First-Team All-American, and he earned his second straight First-Team All-SEC honor.
At just 5'11", Sears does lack the size teams covet, but it's tough to find prospects in this class who were more productive or more trusted in big moments than the Alabama guard. He's a polished scorer who makes smart decisions, and he thrives at changing speeds, making the right reads and hitting tough shots.
Overall, Sears projects as a plug-and-play combo guard who can generate offense on his own or fit alongside stars. While he may face questions defensively in the NBA, his toughness and competitiveness will help offset some of those concerns.
As a 23-year-old, fifth-year senior, Sears won't surprise anyone with a high floor—that's to be expected. But his place in the league could also be that of a trusted secondary playmaker. And if he earns that trust early, his ceiling could rise, and he could own that role for a decade to come.
Essential Facts and Stats
College: Alabama | Position: PG | Height: 5′11″ | Weight: 183 lbs | Age: 23 | Vertical: 37.5 inches | Wingspan: 6′2″ | PPG: 18.6 | RPG: 2.9 | APG: 5.1 | SPG: 0.9 | FG%: 40.3 | 3PT%: 34.5
Pro Comparison: Trey Burke
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At 6'0", 185 pounds, Trey Burke is a natural pro comparison for Sears. But size isn't all that matters here. It's their scoring instincts, isolation prowess and pick-and-roll authority that all give off similar vibes, despite their being undersized guards.
Like Burke, Sears has deep shooting range and a knack for hitting tough, contested looks. They also share a fearless mentality and a tendency to rise in big moments, despite defensive limitations.
A career 9.9 points-per-game player, Burke played nine total seasons stretching from 2013 to 2022. That's a successful career path Sears would take, but in today's game of pace and space, he may find himself with more scoring chances, even if he plays a Burke-type role.
Strengths
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- Creation
- Shotmaking
- Experience
Sears is a crafty shotmaker who thrives off the dribble and rarely forces bad plays. He gets to his spots with control and can hit tough shots from deep or in traffic.
Of course, Sears' balanced approach to shotmaking and creation makes him a near-universal roster fit as a secondary ball-handler. In his final season at Alabama, he averaged a career-high 5.1 assists per game while still increasing his three-point volume.
Sears also brings to the NBA experience most prospects don't have, having completed five total college seasons. After starting five games his freshman year at Ohio, he became a full-time starter the rest of the way, and he went on to play 170 career games between the two programs.
Weaknesses
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- Size & Athleticism
- Finishing
- Defense
Sears was an undersized guard in college, and that's only going to be more apparent as he adjusts to the size and physicality of the NBA. That could limit his ability to separate from defenders or finish at the rim—something he's never been known for anyway.
Playing to his strengths on offense will be key for Sears, but improving certain athletic qualities like strength and agility would also go a long way.
Defensively, Sears needs to work to stay square with his opponent on the perimeter and avoid becoming a target in switches. Again, improving his overall athleticism is a lot to ask, but it might be what's necessary since the one thing he can't work on is his height.
