Halloween brought another frustrating result for the Milwaukee Bucks, but Nate Ament gave the home crowd something to hang onto. The rookie turned in a career night against the Cavaliers, and his rapid rise is making Taylor Jenkins’ decision to push him into the rotation look smarter by the game.
Ament, the No. 13 pick, was expected by many to spend his rookie year in spot duty while his game was refined over time. Instead, he has already emerged as the most impactful wing coming off the bench for Milwaukee this season.
He backed that up Saturday with a career-high 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting, good for 75 percent, while also going 2-for-3 from three-point range. Ament has played in four games this season after an early injury delayed his debut, and he’s now averaging 7.5 points and three rebounds while shooting .440/.444/.500 in fewer than 16 minutes per game.
The scoring has been encouraging, but the defensive work has been just as important. Ament is holding opponents to 31 percent shooting this season, which is the best mark on the Bucks roster. Against Cleveland, he limited the Cavaliers to 1-of-5 shooting, or 20 percent, when he was the primary defender.
His jump shot still needs polishing, and that was part of the evaluation when Milwaukee drafted him. Even so, the early returns have been strong enough to suggest he’s ahead of schedule.
Ament’s emergence also creates pressure elsewhere on the wing. Ousmane Dieng, who re-signed to a three-year deal this summer, has seen his role shrink after a mixed start.
He played 21 minutes on opening night, but since then he has logged just three minutes in the win over the Pacers and six against the Cavs. His numbers haven’t helped, either: 33.3 percent shooting from the field, 14.3 percent from deep, and opponents converting 57.9 percent of their shots when he’s the defender.
Gary Trent Jr. has only appeared in two games this season, and AJ Green is also looking over his shoulder as Brayden Burries has opened his rookie year on fire.
For Milwaukee, Ament’s start has made one thing clear: he’s already good enough to matter. The minutes are likely to keep coming, and the rookie is giving the Bucks every reason to keep trusting him.
In Other News...
Bucks May Have A Simple Rotation Fix For Ryan Rollins
Ryan Rollins early-season dip in scoring and shooting efficiency has been one of the quieter issues for the Bucks, especially after the way he flashed last year. Milwaukee has already found one young guard who can help organize the offense in Kasparas Jakucionis, whose passing has given the group a different kind of rhythm, and the fit between the two guards has looked promising whenever they have shared the floor.
The catch is that the Bucks have not leaned on that pairing much yet, even though the small sample has produced positive net ratings. For a team looking for simple ways to steady Rollins and keep the offense moving, more minutes with Jakucionis could be the kind of low-drama rotation tweak that pays off without requiring a bigger overhaul. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Rookie Nate Ament Is Forcing A Bigger Role Early
Nate Ament has already worked his way into a much larger early-season spot than many rookies get, and it has come at a time when the Bucks have needed someone to stabilize the wing rotation. With Ousmane Dieng struggling to deliver consistent production, Ament has been pushed into meaningful minutes and has looked comfortable enough to justify the opportunity. His scoring has been modest, but he has brought enough activity and poise to stay on the floor.
The numbers suggest there is still plenty of room for growth, especially as a jump shooter, but Aments defense has helped keep his case alive. Opponents have shot just 31 percent against him when he is the primary defender, which is the kind of early sign coaches tend to notice quickly. For a Milwaukee team trying to sort out its depth, the question now is whether Ament can turn this opening into something more permanent. [Read more 🡒]
Bucks Already Have An Uncomfortable Rotation Decision To Make
The Bucks rough start has already pushed Taylor Jenkins into an early-season balancing act, and the loss to Cleveland only sharpened the question of how long he can keep leaning on the same rotation. Milwaukee is off to a 1-5 start, and the offense has not gotten enough from several veteran pieces, with Ryan Rollins, Myles Turner and AJ Green all struggling to find rhythm or efficiency.
At the same time, a few younger players have made a case for more run, with Brayden Burries, Nate Ament, Kel'el Ware and Kasparas Jakuionis giving the staff something to think about. Jenkins has acknowledged how hard it has been to find consistent lineups for the rookies, and he sounds open to changes, which leaves Milwaukee facing an uncomfortable early decision about how much patience to show the veterans and how quickly to reward the newcomers. [Read more 🡒]