Pete Nance Making His Case for a Full-Time Spot with the Bucks
The Milwaukee Bucks are at a crossroads. With the trade deadline looming and the season not quite going as planned, there’s a sense that change is coming-one way or another. But amid the swirling rumors and speculation, one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Pete Nance is making the most of his opportunity, and he’s doing enough to earn a longer look.
Nance, currently on a two-way contract, has been a bright spot in limited minutes. Since cracking the rotation, the 6-foot-10 forward has shown flashes of the kind of modern big man every team is hunting for-versatile, mobile, and, most importantly, able to stretch the floor. He’s averaging 6.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 0.8 steals, and 0.7 assists in just over 16 minutes per game, and he’s doing it while knocking down 46.2% of his shots from beyond the arc.
Now, let’s be real-this isn’t an All-Star campaign we’re talking about. But it is the kind of production that turns heads when it comes from a player on a two-way deal. And while the sample size is small-and admittedly skewed by a recent game in which he played only two minutes against the Sixers-what we’ve seen so far suggests there’s something to build on.
At nearly 26 years old, Nance isn’t a raw prospect anymore. He’s been through the grind of the G League and bounced around enough to understand what it takes to stick.
That experience is showing. He moves well, competes on the glass, and has the kind of shooting stroke that fits snugly into today’s NBA spacing-heavy offenses.
He’s not just surviving out there-he’s contributing.
And timing matters. With Milwaukee’s season teetering and front office decisions on the horizon, this is the kind of moment when a player like Nance can carve out a real role. If the Bucks decide to make moves at the deadline-whether that means parting with Bobby Portis, Kyle Kuzma, Myles Turner, or others-there could be a real opportunity for Nance to step in and fill minutes in the frontcourt.
We’ve seen this movie before in Milwaukee. AJ Green went from undrafted two-way player to full-time starter.
Ryan Rollins was a depth piece not long ago, and now he’s in the thick of the Most Improved Player conversation. The Bucks have a track record of finding value in unexpected places, and Nance could very well be the next name on that list.
Of course, everything hinges on what direction the Bucks choose at the deadline. Will they double down and try to retool around Giannis Antetokounmpo?
Or will they pivot, stockpile assets, and look ahead to the summer? Those decisions will shape the roster in the short term-but regardless of what path Milwaukee takes, Pete Nance has earned a seat at the table.
He’s not just filling a roster spot. He’s making a case to be part of the future.