Milwaukee Bucks: How Jordan Nwora and Sam Merrill fit into the rotation

Looking at how Jordan Nwora fits the Milwaukee Bucks

Coming off a star career at Louisville University, Jordan Nwora is ready to get work after being selected with the 45th overall pick by the Bucks in the 2020 NBA Draft.

Nwora’s new Bucks teammates made that clear upon him landing in Milwaukee as shared to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s Matt Velazquez that both Giannis Antetokounmpo and Khris Middleton texted the rookie on draft night:

"“It meant a lot getting messages from those guys,” Nwora said. “Obviously being a kid in college I’m watching their games all the time. It was kind of surreal, it kind of caught me off guard a little bit, I wasn’t necessarily expecting it. It was crazy, it meant a lot to me and like I said earlier the family atmosphere and how they interact with each other. “When they texted me it was short, it was just ‘welcome to the city, welcome to the team’ and they both said it’s time to win, the goal is to win a championship here. I just said it’s time to get to work.”"

The work that Nwora put in that has led him proclaiming to be the best shooter in this draft class was at the root of why Bucks general manager Jon Horst and co. tabbed the 22-year-old at that point in the second round. Being a career 39.4 percent 3-point shooter on such a high-volume during college is certainly worth being on the Bucks’ radar.

Over time, Nwora grew used to being the Cardinals’ lead option offensively as seen by his 27.1 usage percentage during college. That certainly requires an adjustment playing next to the likes of Antetokounmpo, Middleton and Jrue Holiday, but it would certainly give him plenty of space to unleash his effortless shooting stroke.

Per Synergy Sports’ profile on Nwora, the Buffalo native ranked in the 94th percentile on catch-and-shoot attempts in halfcourt situations and having that valve in the Bucks’ system would certainly do wonders for their perimeter offense.

Between that, getting to his spots on the floor and being able to capitalize in transition, Nwora plays up to the supporting role that will occupy at the next level. That kind of savvy will be helpful in giving the Bucks’ offense some more movement and key in generating some chemistry with their leading stars by knocking down shots.

And with the limitless range he sported over his three years in Louisville, Nwora gives the Bucks a needed spacing threat to open up the floor for the Bucks to bolster their offensive attack.

With the size he possesses, Nwora’s abilities on the defensive end will be crucial to cracking the Bucks’ rotation, even with the knowledge that Mike Budenholzer goes deep into their bench. Showing good mobility and the strength to defend within the interior, Nwora may be up for the challenge to defend opposing frontcourt players rather than on the wing. And on top of that, he is a productive rebounder, especially on defense where he compiled a 20.0 defensive rebounding percentage in college.

The Bucks certainly got value out of Nwora, especially after having a first round grade on him going into draft night. Now it will be all about playing up the ideal role he’ll have around the Bucks’ shot creators, though that’s much easier said than done.