Kyle Kuzma entered the season with plenty to prove, and his first preseason showing for the Milwaukee Bucks did nothing to ease that pressure. In Milwaukee’s opener against Minnesota, Kuzma had a rough night, while rookie Nate Ament emerged as one of the game’s bright spots. If that dynamic holds, Kuzma could find himself losing ground in the Bucks’ forward rotation.
Ament’s numbers were modest - eight points and two rebounds in fewer than 14 minutes - but the impact went beyond the box score. For a raw rookie who some believe won’t be a steady contributor for years, the confidence he showed stood out. He scored, chased rebounds and held up defensively in a way that made him look far more ready than expected.
Kuzma, meanwhile, was unable to give Milwaukee much at all. He was one of three players on the roster over 30, and the Bucks are counting on him to help set the tone.
Instead, he finished with one point, getting that only from a free throw after missing all of his shots from the field, along with five rebounds. For one of the team’s higher-paid players, it was a flat start.
It was only one preseason game, but Kuzma has already had his share of rough outings in a Bucks uniform. If those performances continue, Milwaukee may not have much reason to keep forcing him into a prominent role when Ament is sitting there with upside.
The stakes are especially high for Kuzma this year. He’s on an expiring contract and set to become a free agent next summer.
At $20.5 million, it already seemed unlikely he’d land a deal at that level again, and a shaky season could make things even tougher. If Ament keeps pushing, Kuzma’s path forward gets even murkier.
There is still a clear opportunity in front of him. Kuzma started Milwaukee’s first preseason game and is likely to open the regular season as the starting power forward. The chance is there for him to make his mark on a Bucks team that needs production wherever it can find it.
But if he doesn’t deliver consistently, Ament will stay in the conversation. And the louder that conversation gets, the more pressure Kuzma will be under to respond.
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