Former Alabama basketball star Mark Sears made his NBA regular season debut with the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night.
In the Oct. 26 matchup, the All-American point guard was called off the bench as the Bucks navigated a matchup against the Cleveland Cavaliers without guards Kevin Porter Jr. and Cole Anthony due to ankle injury and illness, respectively.
After showing off in the clutch during the preseason, Sears wasn’t able to come up with any of the hero plays he was known for through five years in college and ultimately suffered his first loss as a pro. The Bucks fell 118-113 to the Cavs.
How did Alabama basketball alum Mark Sears perform in NBA debut?
Sears went scoreless in seven minutes of action for the Bucks. He had just one field goal attempt.
The two-way rookie had a turnover and a foul, finishing with a plus-minus of -5. Sears didn’t have the worst plus-minus of the night, though. Starting guard Gary Trent Jr. took the cake with -23.
Sears’ most well-rounded performance thus far with Milwaukee came against Oklahoma City and former Crimson Tide teammate Chris Youngblood. In eight minutes, Sears scored three points, added a board, an assist and a steal.
Sears and Youngblood are two of four players from Alabama’s most recent Elite Eight roster that advanced to the next level. Center Clifford Omoruyi signed a deal with Maccabi Tel Aviv B.C. in September after failing to make the training camp roster with the Toronto Raptors, who initially signed the undrafted prospect to an Exhibit 10. In October, forward Grant Nelson signed another Exhibit 10 contract with the Brooklyn Nets worth $1,272,870, which was first reported by The Tuscaloosa News.
The Bucks − and potentially Sears − get back to action on Tuesday, Oct. 28, against the New York Knicks.
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Emilee Smarr covers Alabama basketball and Crimson Tide athletics for the Tuscaloosa News. She can be reached via email at esmarr@gannett.com.