Milwaukee Bucks: 3 ways Jordan Nwora can crack rotation this season

The Milwaukee Bucks are very high on second round draft pick Jordan Nwora, but how can he earn a spot in the rotation this coming season?

When the Milwaukee Bucks selected Jordan Nwora 45th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, they landed a steal.

According to The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie ($$), Milwaukee had their eyes on Nwora with the No. 24 overall selection before they shipped it off in the Jrue Holiday trade. To see Nwora’s name still waiting to hear his name called 21 spots later had to be surprising, and there was no way he was getting beyond their pick at 45th overall.

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Nwora brings a much-needed set of skills to this Milwaukee team, but his spot in the lineup is far from solidified going into his rookie season. The 22-year-old joins a highly talented small forward rotation alongside Khris Middleton, Thanasis Antetokounmpo, and Torrey Craig, making it an uphill battle to carve out minutes for himself.

With training camp underway, Nwora spoke with the media and said that he still does not have a feel for what his role will be quite yet:

"“It’s still just learning. We’re only a couple days in doing team activities… I’m sure down the line we’ll figure that out. I feel with this team I’m going to have to be somebody who can space the floor, knock down shots, and play defense. So, we’ll see what happens this season, I’ll have to do that job at a high level.”"

Nwora added that he has been working closely with Middleton and that the two-time All-Star has given him plenty of pointers. As Nwora tries to make a name for himself, here are three ways he can earn a spot in the Milwaukee Bucks’ rotation this season.

No. 1 goal – Improve on the defensive end

One of the lingering question marks about Nwora’s game is his play on the defensive end. Standing at 6’7″ and weighing 225 lbs., the forward possesses the capabilities to be a solid defender, but it was a struggle for him to utilize that stature at the collegiate level consistently.

This shortcoming was listed on many scouting reports ahead of the NBA Draft, including this one by Sean Kane of NBA Sports Philadelphia:

"“There are also legitimate concerns about his ability to defend on the pro level. Is he quick enough to guard smaller players on the perimeter? Is he strong enough to hold his own in the paint and on the boards? If Nwora ends up slipping to the second round, the defensive question marks will be the biggest reason why.”"

For a team like the Bucks whose identity is based on their defensive efforts, Nwora could certainly struggle on that side of the ball. The presence of upstanding defenders such as Antetokounmpo, Jrue Holiday, Brook Lopez, and Craig could help mask Nwora’s subpar defense, but his individual development is critical.

The rookie has the natural abilities to be a sound defender, but it starts with him taking that next step at the NBA level. If he can do so, he stands a better shot of making himself a regular in Milwaukee’s rotation.