Among the countless images that scroll across the giant scoreboard above the court in Fiserv Forum during Milwaukee Bucks game, there was one relatively static image had a rapidly ascending number attached to it every time it was displayed.
It was an action photo of Ryan Rollins, and a graphic that said for every point scored he would donate one book to children in Milwaukee Public Schools. Called “Buckets for Books,” the 23-year-old Rollins took up the mantle of former teammate Brook Lopez in providing reading material for deserving kids in the city.
When Rollins came up with the idea for the program to begin the year, he had scored a total of 416 points in his 25 career games in the NBA from 2022-25. Starting the season, he knew he was going to have a bigger role on the team, but one that likely saw him coming off the bench most nights.
Suddenly, though, Rollins found himself as the primary ball handler and scorer for the Bucks. By Dec. 5, he had already scored 428 points in 24 games. He was en route to not only the best season of his young career, but blossomed into a core player for the Bucks going forward. He finished fifth in the league’s most improved player voting and scored 1,281 total points.
One of the more softspoken players on the team, Rollins sheepishly acknowledged he didn’t anticipate such a good season but was thrilled that the end result was a sizable donation to a handful of MPS schools.
“That’s how it’s supposed to be,” he said with a wry smile and a laugh. “That’s how it worked out.
“I was blessed to be able to have the season I did on the court, so it goes hand-in-hand with being able to give back that way, too.”
Rollins, who partnered with Bernie’s Book Bank, rounded up his point total to donate $2,600 for books to students at Victory, Zablocki, Milwaukee Spanish Immersion, Hawley, Cass St. School and Caver Academy schools from May 11-13.Each school will receive about 200 books, which were a mix of fiction, non-fiction and popular children’s books. The books were then put into individual bags that were handed out to students to own.
“Just the fact that he cares and has a specific vision,” said Jenna Reno, the executive director of Bernie’s Book Bank in Greater Milwaukee. “I think it’s easy for anyone to say, sure, let’s help some kids and give away some money, but I think the fact that he is thoughtful about doing something that really aligns with his interests, bringing in his journey with literacy, that’s, to me, the best type of partnership and so inspiring for kids.”
Rollins attended Dakota High School in Macomb, Michigan, which is about 30 miles north of Detroit. He played one year at the University of Toledo in Ohio before being the No. 44 pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Atlanta Hawks.
Rollins laughed a bit as he remembered not being into books as a kid, but he developed a love for reading once he got into the NBA and wanted to share his excitement over reading with younger kids.
“He reads diligently,” his mother, Toni said. She noted that even at Ryan’s basketball camps he handed out two books per participant.
“I think he thinks, or hopes, if I, an NBA person who is somebody that kids quote-unquote looks up to, are doing these things and making them look cool, then this too will look cool to them and kind of transfer to them in a way that maybe he didn’t get into.”
He participated in the handout of books on May 13 at Carver Elementary, a moment that those children will savor. Beyond meeting a professional basketball player, Reno said the tangibility of holding a book and flipping through its pages, as well as knowing the item is theirs, remains a highlight for children and drastically increases literacy levels.
The book donation initiative was Rollins’ brainchild in the offseason, and something he brought to his family and philanthropic advisor, Lauren Claybourne of Fingerprint Playbook.
But it wasn’t the only charitable endeavor Rollins participated in during the season, which helped lead him to be recognized by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association as the NBA Cares Bob Lanier Community Assist Award winner for March.
That award led to a $20,000 donation from the league and NBPA Foundation to Developing K.I.D.S., a Detroit-based non-profit that provides workshops and events on grief, loss, trauma and mental health support.
Rollins said he appreciated being recognized by the league, but was more moved by the fact his family was able to join him on the court at Fiserv Forum on April 10 when he was presented the award.
“It’s a product of them, you know what I mean, what they instilled in me and how they raised me,” he said. “It was great, a great time. It was dope. Great memories in that situation. It’s a blessing, man, honestly. It’s a blessing. Even being in this situation, being in the league, everything is a blessing. Just gotta take it for that and just be appreciative, honestly.”
Ryan Rollins forged quick connection in Milwaukee
Rollins is still a very young player with relatively shallow roots in not only the league but Milwaukee. He bounced to three teams via trade and waivers in less than two years and was initially signed by the Bucks with just months left in the 2024-25 season. He did get some stability by signing a 3-year, $12 million deal last July, but this was just his first full year in Milwaukee.
On some level, it would have made sense if Rollins wanted to hold off on really diving into charitable work as he got his professional footing down, but that was never really a consideration for Rollins – or his family.
His parents Chris and Toni instilled a mantra early on with their sons (Ryan has an older brother, Chris), that “to whom much is given, much is required.”
Toni said she and her husband hoped their children would pick up and retain the lessons they instilled, but she did notice Ryan was, quietly, locking onto those values and expressing them in his own way.
So, it was not a surprise to her or the family that Ryan dived right into charitable endeavors. He was a consistent participant in outreach events led by the organization, which included a Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA wheelchair basketball clinic in partnership with the Wisconsin Adaptive Sports Association and a shopping event with Camp Reunite, which is a trauma-informed program for children with an incarcerated parent.
A key aspect of all of Rollins’ community endeavors is giving his personal time and space, particularly to children, where he makes sure he’s able to provide a connection. Rollins and his family said that ability grew out of their ministry in their hometown church and being able to speak and interact with people of all ages and walks of life.
“We’re just humble people and realize that humility is a necessity,” his mother said. “We say it as more of a reminder, not something that this is something you’re not currently doing, but as a constant reminder is that humility is everything. You gotta stay humble. You’re here today but it could be gone tomorrow.
“But again, that’s just his way. He’s one of those people who will sit back, he may not talk a whole bunch in the room but he’s observing the whole room. He can give you a read on all the stuff that went on. It’s just his nature.”
Perhaps the most shining example of that was a “friendsgiving” Rollins hosted at the Vel R. Phillips Youth and Family Justice Center. Rollins brought in film producer Desire Vincent Levy to lead the event, along with chef Muhammad Abdul-Hadi of Philadelphia-based Down North Pizza and longtime family friend Craig Whilby. Whilby founded R.A.K.S. (Random Acts of Kindness), a Detroit-area non-profit that provides services to the returning citizens and families affected from the judicial system.
The group not only met about 60 justice-impacted youth at the Vel R. Phillips center, but the youths were then able make their own pizzas – Rollins brought in an oven to bake them – and had real conversations about resiliency and finding a sense of purpose.
“Everybody has their battles and everybody makes mistakes in life, especially kids like that in that situation, to be able to preach to them that second chances do come around but it’s up to you to make the most of them,” Rollins said. “What you’re doing now is a big key of making the most of that second chance when you do get that opportunity.
“And then, just like having fun with them, talking to them about basketball, having fun, just life stuff, be able to come down to earth and communicate with them on simple things. That was a good situation for us, for sure.”
Lathel Taylor, the Superintendent of Milwaukee County Department of Health and Human Services-Children, Youth & Family Services and a 30-year county employee, described the event as one of the more significant ones the youth at the facility have had. Part of that impact was because his parents also joined him, which presented a more transparent, vulnerable side to a professional basketball player they see on television.
“These kids, they don’t see that all the time,” Taylor said. “They don’t see that family structure and that bond and how that interaction goes. It was very clear that yeah, he’s the professional athlete but you could tell who was in charge, so to speak. These are the parents. That professional stuff, yeah, that’s cool, but these are the parents and this is what you need to do in order to be successful and this is how we raised him.
“For me, on a personal level, that was huge for me to see that.”
Taylor said the conversations quickly moved from basketball to a dialogue about choices and life in general. Moreover, Taylor commended Rollins on seeking out and serving a part of the Milwaukee community that often feels forgotten.
“The fact that somebody is thinking about coming out here to try and talk to them and uplift them and help them and help us, by the way, make a difference in our kids’ lives is invaluable,” Taylor said. “Because [this] detention center is not about locking kids up – it’s about treating them, helping them make better decisions, showing them better ways, helping them grow.”
Doing exactly that and capitalizing on second chances is an important message for Rollins, who not only found success on this third NBA team, but it came after he had been released by the Washington Wizards in 2024 following a guilty plea for misdemeanor shoplifting of small household items. His record was expunged six months later, but he fully understood that his NBA career was in doubt at just 22 years old.“During that time was really just reflection,” he said, while also noting he had a lot of people offer helping hands when he was down. “I had just, time.
“Just look at myself in the mirror, things that I was doing, why I was doing things, reasons I was doing it, and just making the most of my situation. You kind of take things for granted a little bit when you’re just in the moment. And when you eventually get something taken from you, you can step back and look at the situation that you were in and where you’re at now n adjust make sure you appreciate things a lot more.”
And now, as his career appears to be accelerating on an upward trajectory, he wants to continue to make the most of it by being available and helpful to others.
“I feel like a lot more is being put upon my plate, just blessed for more opportunities in every facet on the court, off the court,” he said. “So I just feel like because I’m getting that, I feel like I should do service and be able to give back in any facet, whether it’s giving back with some type of educational stuff or giving back by showing face and hopefully make somebody’s day with just my presence.
“I feel that’s a big thing for someone. If you get blessed to have, then you should give, too.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Bucks guard Ryan Rollins helping make ‘invaluable’ difference in kids’ lives
Reporting by Jim Owczarski, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
