Taylor Jenkins doesn’t have much of a case for keeping Nate Ament on the shelf.
Ament, the 19-year-old rookie, didn’t see the floor until the Bucks’ third game, and that delay stands out even more when the players ahead of him at power forward haven’t exactly seized the job. Kyle Kuzma and Ousmane Dieng have occupied that spot, but neither has given Milwaukee a convincing reason to block the rookie’s path.
Jenkins has said players have to earn their minutes, and that’s fair in theory. But in this situation, the Bucks don’t appear to be getting enough from the veterans in front of Ament to justify the wait. Milwaukee isn’t chasing a playoff berth this season, which makes this the ideal time to let a young talent take some lumps and learn on the fly.
The Bucks brought Jenkins in to develop their young core, and that mission should extend to Ament and fellow first-round pick Brayden Burries. Burries has at least been part of every game so far, while Ament has been left waiting for a real chance to settle in.
When Ament did get on the court Saturday against the 76ers, the line wasn’t pretty: 1 point, 3 rebounds and 1 steal in 11 minutes. He also picked up 5 fouls in that short stint, a clear sign that the speed of the game still has him catching up.
Still, there were some encouraging flashes. Ament showed defensive activity, helping out and contesting drives. The offensive game is still raw, and even his physical tools need more polish, but none of that changes the basic truth: he needs minutes to improve.
Milwaukee has already been giving development time to other spots on the roster. In the backcourt, Burries and the trade arrivals from the Heat have been part of the mix. At center, Kel’el Ware needs his chances too.
That makes the power forward spot stand out all the more. Kuzma hasn’t done enough to help the Bucks win and has been one of the bigger problems in the starting group. Dieng showed promise late last season, but he hasn’t carried that into this year.
So far, the play in front of Ament has opened the door for him to at least get backup minutes. He’s not ready to claim a starting job, but the Bucks have room to give him a real runway. It’s early, and Jenkins still has plenty of time to shift course and make Ament a regular part of the rotation.
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Bucks Bench Roles Already Look Unsafe Under Taylor Jenkins
Taylor Jenkins is barely a week into his Bucks tenure, and he already showed how quickly the bench hierarchy can change. After Ousmane Dieng struggled through the first two games of the NBA season, Jenkins swapped him out for Nate Ament in the rotation for the third game, a sign that no reserve role is particularly secure this early.
Ament logged 10 minutes off the bench, while Dieng did not play in that game, leaving Milwaukee's forward rotation still very much in flux. Jenkins is expected to keep adjusting as he sorts out the group, and for players on the back end of the rotation, every opportunity already feels like one they have to earn all over again. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Off To Brutal Start As Early Pressure Builds On Key Starters
The early returns under Taylor Jenkins have been rough for Milwaukee, with the Bucks opening the season 0-3 after losses to Washington, Chicago and Philadelphia. The sluggish start has already put a spotlight on some familiar problem areas, especially free throw shooting and turnovers, two issues that have repeatedly undercut the team when games have tightened.
Ryan Rollins and Myles Turner are among the key pieces who need to settle in quickly if the Bucks are going to stop the slide. There is still a sense that the group should improve as players get more comfortable with Jenkins system and with one another, but the longer the mistakes pile up, the more pressure builds for Milwaukee to show progress soon. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Face A Big Early Test As Tyrese Haliburton Returns Home
The Pacers head into Milwaukee coming off a win over the Nets, and the matchup comes with an added wrinkle for Tyrese Haliburton. He has confirmed he will play despite the back-to-back, and the trip carries a little extra meaning since he is eager to compete in his home state. For a Bucks team still searching for its first win of the season, it is an early test that already has some pressure attached to it.
Milwaukee has plenty to sort out beyond the standings, starting with how it handles Indianas pace and playmaking while trying to steady its own early-season form. The Bucks have looked for signs of traction from their key pieces, and this game offers another chance to see whether the trends from the opening stretch begin to turn. With Haliburton in the building and both teams carrying different kinds of urgency, the night has the feel of an early checkpoint rather than just another regular-season stop. [Read more 🡒]