NBA scouts are starting to pay closer attention to Wisconsin big man Nolan Winter, and it’s not hard to see why.
Winter has never been the kind of player who grabs headlines with monster scoring nights, but his value has always shown up in quieter ways. He is the sort of big man who makes an offense function, and after Wisconsin’s recent exhibition against UW-Parkside, there’s a sense that he may have taken another step forward.
That matters because Winter’s name is creeping onto draft boards. At the end of the day, he checks boxes teams tend to like.
Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report called Winter the “typical screen and score big.” That fits.
Winter ranked in the 86th percentile in scoring efficiency as a roll man, and he also brings enough shooting threat to matter as a floor spacer. That part of his game is still something evaluators want to see grow, but the foundation is there.
Nolan Winter | Wisconsin PF/C, 20 y/o
-6'11" 235 -Textbook screen and score big: 71% FG on rolls, 41% pops
-Fluid mover, coordinated finisher. Threat to attack closeouts, fake DHOs
-30+ 3PTM in b2b seasons
-Efficient: 65% TS, 7.4 TO%, 18% USG
-Limited rim pro/D-potential… pic.twitter.com/adY5j9lE3j
- Jonathan Wasserman (@NBADraftWass) October 12, 2026
What often gets missed is that Winter brings real usefulness on the other end, too. He posted a career-high 4.5% block percentage last season, and he hasn’t had anything close to a negative DBPM during his time with the Badgers.
That rim protection, along with his surprisingly solid foot speed, gives Greg Gard a lot of options. Winter can handle different coverages, and that versatility could become even more valuable if his defensive isolation keeps developing.
The bigger swing for Winter is on offense. He already finishes the plays that are created for him, but the next level comes from doing more on his own. That’s the area he hasn’t fully unlocked yet, even if signs point to progress.
Last season, Winter ranked in the 67th percentile in post-up scoring efficiency, but only the 34th percentile in frequency. He was also in the 65th percentile in spot-up scoring, while ranking just the 23rd percentile in frequency.
Nolan Winter is getting drafted. The only question is whether he’s a first- or second-round pick.
A true 7-footer with a rare skillset, elite offensive impact, and only continues to get stronger. I like him as an NBA prospect even more than Henri Veesaar. pic.twitter.com/QrGehj0iO4
- JPR (@Scouting_Col) July 3, 2026
There’s clearly something there in those situations. The challenge is getting Winter to tap into it more often without sacrificing the efficiency and extra-value plays that already make him so useful.
That’s a difficult balance, but for Wisconsin, it may be the one that determines how high this team can climb. If the Badgers are going to hit their ceiling this season, unlocking the fourth-year big man from Minnesota could be a major part of it.
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