(MILWAUKEE BUCKS) – The Milwaukee Bucks have signed Jake Stephens.
A 6-11, 270-pound center, Stephens appeared in 61 games (30 starts) last season with KK Split in the Croatian A-1 League and Adriatic League ABA. The 26-year-old averaged 9.1 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 16.1 minutes per game while shooting 54.2% from the field, and he earned Adriatic League ABA Round 4 MVP honors. Stephens reached double figures in scoring 26 times overall last season, including four 20-point games and one 30-point performance, and he grabbed double-digit rebounds in four contests for four double-doubles.
Prior to joining KK Split, Stephens spent the 2024-25 season with Monbus Obradoiro in the Spanish Primera FEB and FMP Beograd in the Adriatic League ABA, where he saw action in 28 games (13 starts) and averaged 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in 17.9 minutes per game while shooting 55.4% from the field. The Bunker Hill, West Virginia, native played his first professional season in 2023-24 in the NBA G League, appearing in 41 games with the Capital City Go-Go and Stockton Kings.
In 144 games (122 starts) over five collegiate seasons at Virginia Military Institute (2018-22) and Chattanooga (2022-23), Stephens amassed college career averages of 13.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 blocks in 26.3 minutes per game with a 50% mark from the field. The three-time All-Southern Conference selection leads the conference in career defensive rebounds (767) while ranking ninth in games played (144) and 12th in blocks (206).
