Merrill scores first NBA points on Christmas Day

The former Aggie basketball great, Sam Merrill, will have one reason to be merry this Christmas, having scored his first-ever NBA points in the Milwaukee Bucks’ 138-99 Christmas Day win over the Golden State Warriors.

Merrill, who played a single five-minute stint on Wednesday to mark his NBA debut (he didn’t record any stats in that game), didn’t check in until the fourth quarter when the Bucks had already wrapped up its win. Merrill came in and put in an all-around performance with six points, four assists, three rebounds and one steal. He took two 3-point attempts and made both with a third shot being blocked by 2020 second overall pick James Wiseman.

First of many buckets for @smerrill05‼️#AggiesAllTheWay x #FearTheDeer pic.twitter.com/qXGWgI2A8d

— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) December 25, 2020

Been on the Sam Merrill bandwagon for quite some time. Not many rookie 2nd rounders coming in and doing this.

Wouldn't be surprised to see him getting some playoff minutes this year. pic.twitter.com/EIw5AhrfMw

— Aram Cannuscio (@AC__Hoops) December 25, 2020

As a rookie, Merrill has appeared in both Bucks games thus far. Against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday, his minutes spanned the final minutes of the first quarter and lasted into the second before taking a seat on the bench for the rest of the game.

This performance marks the first time a former Aggie has scored points in the NBA since Desmond Penigar in March 2004.