Milwaukee Bucks rookie Nate Ament is moving in the right direction as the team gets closer to its season opener, but his availability remains up in the air after an ankle sprain cut short his preseason run.
Ament missed the Bucks’ most recent preseason game against the Charlotte Hornets and is expected to sit out the final two as well. Even so, coach Taylor Jenkins said the forward is making steady progress and still has a chance to be ready when the regular season begins.
"Nate [is] progressing. Little bit more movement in the halfcourt, but definetly kinda constrained there but making some positive progress...
He's on track, making progress. We're doing everything possible.
He's doing everything possible to be available for opening night... Our goal is to, obviously, have him available."
That update matters because Ament had started to flash the ability that made him such an intriguing rookie in the first place. His preseason, though, was always going to come with the usual bumps for a raw young player. There were moments that hinted at upside, and others that showed just how much polishing he still needs.
The injury interrupts that evaluation at a bad time. The Bucks have dealt with more than their share of injuries in recent years, and while Tyler Herro being under the weather appears to be only a short-term issue, Ament is the lone real question mark on the roster right now. Everyone else is healthy.
Jenkins has not committed to handing out roles before the season starts, and Ament’s status only complicates the picture. He has been near the bottom of the preseason playing-time ladder, but he still had a chance to make his case. Now, that opportunity is paused.
How Milwaukee handles the forward rotation could matter here. It has been mentioned as one of the weaker parts of the roster, and Kyle Kuzma’s uneven play could open the door for another look. If Kuzma struggles, Jenkins may have reason to try the rookie and see whether he can provide a lift.
Still, the Bucks are not going to push Ament back too early. Jenkins has been around him all summer, and Milwaukee appears committed to letting the development process unfold at the right pace. The goal is simple: get him healthy first, then worry about everything else.
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