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Nate Ament, the forward Milwaukee selected with the No. 13 pick, turned in a noticeable preseason performance despite the Bucks falling to Minnesota. His showing offered early proof that the rookie can contribute in multiple ways and may have earned himself more looks from the coaching staff.
A promising preseason debut
Statistically, Ament’s line — eight points and two rebounds — is modest. Still, the way he produced those stats made the outing significant for a young player viewed as an upside selection.
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His first basket came from the corner after a crisp feed from AJ Green, a shot he took and made without hesitation. Shortly after, Ament chased down an offensive rebound in traffic, absorbed contact and converted the putback for an and-one opportunity.
Beyond scoring, he used his length to affect plays on both ends. Ament showed active hands and awareness on defense, and his willingness to battle for boards stood out even though he isn’t the bulkiest frontcourt player.
Room to grow — and a clear path to minutes
The rookie was not without mistakes; he had a few defensive lapses and moments of inconsistency. Still, the early tape is encouraging, and teammates like Caris LeVert have suggested Ament could surprise some people with how he develops.
If he continues to connect on shots, fight for rebounds and disrupt opponents defensively, Ament appears likely to secure a place in coach Taylor Jenkins‘s rotation through the rest of the preseason. That could mean carving into minutes currently allotted to players such as Kyle Kuzma, who struggled in the opener.
Establishing himself in preseason minutes would improve Ament’s chances of remaining in the rotation when the regular season begins, giving the Bucks another versatile frontcourt option.
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