After selecting him with the 45th overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks may have a hidden gem on their roster in rookie Jordan Nwora.
Milwaukee’s interest in the three-year man out of Louisville had been prominent leading up to the draft, as The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie (Subscription required) reported the Bucks initially had a first round grade on him. That was made difficult when the team traded their 24th overall selection away in the trade for Jrue Holiday.
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Nevertheless, things panned out anyway, as he was an obvious choice for them when he was still on the board at the 45th overall selection.
Despite how prevalent their rumored interest in him was, playing time has been scarce for the 22-year-old. Logging just 187 total minutes in 20 appearances this season, Nwora has largely been a spectator on the end of the bench during his rookie campaign to this point.
However, recent injuries to Milwaukee’s roster have given the rookie more chances in the lineup, and he has taken advantage of the opportunity. With some impressive showings in the books, here are three reasons why the Bucks should look to get Jordan Nwora more involved in the rotation moving forward.
Jordan Nwora’s shooting would provide more firepower for the Milwaukee Bucks
Heading into the draft, Nwora was an easy choice for the Bucks, given what he displayed on the offensive side of the ball throughout his collegiate career.
In his final two seasons at Louisville, the forward averaged 17.5 points on .443/.387/.788 shooting splits, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game. Right off the bat, Nwora’s 3-point shooting is what stands out the most. Tallying 38.7 percent on 6.1 attempts from behind the arc in that span, the forward was hypothetically a seamless fit in Milwaukee’s let it fly minded offense.
Shooting 18-of-40 (45 percent) from deep with the Bucks, Nwora has been able to translate that shooting efficiency over into the NBA. That problem is that it comes in such a small sample size, given Nwora’s exclusion from the main rotation. Milwaukee currently boasts the third-best 3-point percentage in the league at 39.3 percent, and adding a player like Nwora into the fold more regularly would only make them that much more formidable from long range.
Furthermore, the Bucks could use a player like Nwora to boost the production from an inconsistent second unit.
Jordan Nwora would give the Milwaukee Bucks a much-needed spark in the second unit
The Bucks’ revamped bench has been wildly inconsistent this season with their contributions on the offensive end.
Milwaukee’s reserves are contributing 33.6 points per game this season, which ranks 23rd in the association. A hefty portion of that total stems from the efforts of Bobby Portis and Bryn Forbes, two players that have found their niche in the lineup. However, the other members of the bench mob have oftentimes struggled to make an impact in the scoring department.
Although Thanasis Antetokounmpo has shown an improved scoring touch recently, the Bucks will never be dependent on him to put points on the board. His job revolves around being their energizer and making the hustle plays, which he continues to do.
The biggest hole in the second unit right now is Pat Connaughton, who is locked in a shooting slump throughout April. Connaughton is shooting a whopping 1-for-17 from behind the arc this month. The guard has not been making much of a positive impact during his 25 minutes per game.
With his struggles persisting, the team could certainly find time for a player like Nwora during some of those minutes. As evidenced by his performances when he is fortunate enough to get time, Nwora’s shooting and scoring punch could bump the second unit’s production up a tick. Struggling to generate offense, the Bucks should experiment more with Nwora in second unit lineups.
Jordan Nwora’s potential is wasting away on the Milwaukee Bucks’ bench
Only appearing in 20 games for Milwaukee this season, most of them coming during mop-up duty, Nwora has not gotten many chances to display what he brings to the table. However, in the two games where he has received extended minutes, the rookie has been fantastic.
The first game in Milwaukee’s recent 102-96 loss to the New York Knicks, where the Bucks were without a large portion of their regulars. It was Nwora’s first start of the season, and he impressed by scoring 21 points on 7-for-18 shooting, including 4-for-8 from behind the arc. Also hauling in 10 rebounds, the rookie logged the first double-double of his young career in 36 minutes of action.
Nwora’s next big opportunity came in Milwaukee’s 127-119 loss to the Charlotte Hornets Friday night, where he got the nod in the starting lineup with all five starters out. Once again, Nwora made good with the opportunity by scoring a career-high 24 points while shooting an efficient 9-of-16 from the field, including 4-of-10 behind the arc. Logging 32 minutes, Nwora once again proved that he could contribute in a meaningful way when given a chance.
Showing out in both of his performances with an extended look, Nwora deserves some more minutes. While his defense still needs work, the scoring and floor spacing that he brings whenever he steps onto the court is something that could immediately help this team. With the potential he has displayed in limited stretches this season, Nwora has the potential to be the steal of the 2020 NBA Draft if given more time.
The rookie could immediately be an impactful piece in the rotation, but only time will tell if his latest performance can net him more time. Hopefully, with tremendous upside just waiting to be unearthed, this is the start of something special for Jordan Nwora in Milwaukee.