Last Updated on July 25, 2026 by Mat Diekhake

Sam Merrill has worked his way into a consistent NBA role thanks to his shooting ability and understanding of how to play within a team offense. His quick release, off-ball movement, and willingness to make the extra pass help create spacing and opportunities for those around him.

Here’s a detailed profile of Sam Merrill:

Player Profile

  • Full Name: Samuel Hoskins Merrill
  • Nationality: American
  • Age: Born May 15, 1996
  • Hometown: Bountiful, Utah, USA
  • Height: 6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
  • Weight: 205 lbs (93 kg)
  • Wingspan: 6 ft 5 in (196 cm)
  • Shoe Size: 13 (US)
  • Jersey Number: #5, #15, #3 (varied throughout his career)
  • Position: Shooting guard / Point guard
  • High School and College:
    • High School:
      • Bountiful High School (Bountiful, Utah)
    • College:
      • Utah State University (2015–2020)
  • NBA Draft:
    • Drafted: 60th overall pick in the 2nd round of the 2020 NBA Draft by the New Orleans Pelicans (rights traded to the Milwaukee Bucks)
  • Teams Played For:
    1. Milwaukee Bucks (2020–2021)
    2. Memphis Grizzlies (2021–2022)
    3. Cleveland Cavaliers (2023–present)
  • Championship Rings:
    • NBA: 1 (2021 with the Milwaukee Bucks)
  • Kids: No publicly known children
  • Siblings: He has four siblings.

Player Archetype / Play Style

Sam Merrill’s player archetype is a movement-shooting guard: a floor-spacing backcourt weapon whose biggest value comes from deep-range shot-making, off-ball activity, and enough secondary playmaking to keep an offense flowing. Offensively, he fits as a complementary scorer who can sprint off screens, fire off handoffs, punish defensive mistakes, and mix in some pick-and-roll reads, while defensively he is more of a system guard than a true stopper, competing on the perimeter without relying on elite size or athletic tools to erase matchups. Physically, Merrill has solid guard size at 6-foot-4 to 6-foot-5 and around 205 pounds, and his overall play style is built on quick release shooting, smart movement, composure, and crafty offensive feel rather than explosive rim pressure. (NBC Sports Philadelphia)

Scouting Report

Sam Merrill bends a defence without needing the ball for very long. That’s his biggest skill. The obvious part is the shooting, but the more interesting part is everything that happens before the catch. He works tirelessly through staggered screens, flies into DHOs with almost no wasted movement and has a knack for setting his feet while already reading the next closeout, forcing defenders to chase him rather than loading up elsewhere. I’ve always thought he understands spacing like a veteran quarterback understands passing windows; he knows exactly where to drift to make one help step feel too expensive. If defenders overplay the jumper, he’ll take the open lane with a couple of controlled dribbles and keep the possession alive with the simple pass, although his handle isn’t dynamic enough to consistently create separation once the defence recovers. That’s where the trade-off begins. His offensive value is tied to movement and rhythm rather than self-creation. Defensively, he competes harder than he’s often given credit for. He generally rotates on time, communicates well through off-ball actions and fights over screens instead of conceding easy switches, but bigger wings can shoot through him and quicker guards are capable of forcing him into recovery situations where he lacks the burst to regain position. His best role is as a movement shooter in an offence built around continuous screening, drive-and-kick actions and quick decision-making, because every possession he spends running defenders through traffic creates space for somebody else even if he never takes the shot himself. To me, that’s easy to overlook when watching the ball. Teams with multiple creators will maximise his value because he can spend entire possessions stressing defensive positioning rather than initiating offence. There are similarities to Duncan Robinson in the way constant off-ball movement becomes a form of playmaking, while parts of his game also resemble Matt Thomas, particularly the lightning-quick release, disciplined floor spacing and understanding that the threat of the jumper often matters as much as the shot itself.

Fun Facts

  • A standout at Utah State, he was the 2020 Mountain West Conference Player of the Year.
  • Merrill played a supporting role in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 2021 NBA Championship run and continues to provide shooting and depth in the NBA.

Sources:

Utah State Aggies — Sam Merrill Drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans in the Second Round of the 2020 NBA Draft
NBA — Sam Merrill | Guard | Cleveland Cavaliers
NBC Sports Philadelphia — NBA draft profile: Sam Merrill is a cold-blooded shotmaker
Peachtree Hoops — 2020 NBA Draft scouting report: Sam Merrill