What should count as a good rookie year for Nate Ament?
That question matters in Milwaukee, where the Bucks walked into the 2026 NBA Draft with two first-round picks after landing the No. 13 selection from the Miami Heat in the trade that sent Giannis Antetokounmpo to South Beach. With their own pick at No. 10, they used one slot on guard Brayden Burries, then a few picks later took Ament while he was wearing a Heat hat.
It gave the Bucks a chance to start their rebuild with two lottery picks, and Ament is one of the most intriguing pieces in the group. The 19-year-old flashed at summer league, but Burries has drawn most of the attention lately. Ament, though, comes with his own set of questions and possibilities.
He showed real high-end moments at Tennessee, but there were also stretches that made it obvious he still has work to do, both physically and mentally. Even with the concerns that pushed him down the board, it’s worth remembering he was viewed as a potential top-five pick before his freshman season. He’ll be a teenager until Dec. 10, he has the kind of frame that should let him handle both forward spots once he adds strength, and the skill level is already there.
For Ament, a strong rookie season shouldn’t be measured by a big scoring total or a heavy workload. The real sign of progress would be finishing Game 82 with a lot more confidence than he had on opening night. He’ll need to get stronger, trust his shot more and clean up his shooting stroke, but the tools are obvious enough to make him look like a steal at No. 13 and a meaningful part of the return Milwaukee got for Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis.
His role will shape everything. He’s likely to begin as a rotation piece, and that’s not a bad place to start for a player with his size, skill and intangibles. A positive first year would center on development: filling out his body, becoming more efficient and showing he can do damage with his shooting and defense.
If he can knock down threes at a strong rate, use his size on the defensive end and steadily build confidence, that would be a solid launch point. The box score may not fully capture his impact, but around eight points per game with good shooting splits would be enough to call it a good start.
There is also value in the Bucks keeping expectations low. That can give a young player room to make mistakes and learn, as long as the coach is willing to live with it. Taylor Jenkins’s track record as the leader of a successful rebuild in Memphis suggests he may do exactly that.
That could mean more early minutes for Ament than he might get in another situation, especially with Milwaukee trying to figure out which young players are ready to pop. Burries may be further along, but the Bucks’ backcourt is more crowded. If Kyle Kuzma or Myles Turner is moved during the season, that could open even more playing time for Ament.
Kel'el Ware and Ament also look like the frontcourt pairing Milwaukee wants to build around, which makes it logical to get them on the floor together and see what comes out of it. Both have had motor questions attached to them, so the Bucks have reason to test that partnership early. The number to watch is minutes: if Ament can get to 15-plus a night and hold his own, that would be a strong sign for what comes next.
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