Milwaukee Bucks: 3 ways Jordan Nwora can crack the 2021-22 rotation

It has grown incredibly hard to ignore the potential Jordan Nwora has put on display over the past year with the Milwaukee Bucks.

Selected 45th overall by the Bucks in the 2020 NBA Draft, Nwora did not receive much time over the course of the team’s title-winning campaign. However, when the 22-year-old was fortunate enough to see time during his rookie season, he certainly took advantage with several standout performances sprinkled throughout the year.

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As the youngster looks to take a leap in year two and potentially earn his place in the rotation, he faces an uphill battle once again due to the plethora of talent the Bucks have on this roster. In addition to returning players Khris Middleton and Donte DiVincenzo, the team has added two newcomers in Grayson Allen and Rodney Hood to bolster their wing depth further. Despite the tall order he faces, here are three ways Nwora could earn a spot in Milwaukee’s rotation next year.

Jordan Nwora could earn a spot in the rotation for the Milwaukee Bucks with his electric 3-point shooting

For better or worse, Bucks have lived and died by a “let it fly” mindset over the past several years, which would help Nwora fit in seamlessly.

Perimeter shooting has always been the most desirable characteristic in Nwora’s game, which was fully on display during his final two years at Louisville. In 65 games, 59 coming in the starting lineup, the forward shot 38.7 percent from deep on 6.1 attempts per game, letting it fly with the utmost confidence. That 3-point prowess was likely why the Bucks reportedly had a first round grade on him entering the draft, according to The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie (subscription required). Given their high praise for the former Cardinal, the Bucks could not have been happier when he fell into their lap with the 45th pick.

While it came in a far smaller sample size, Nwora continued his efficient shooting during his lesser minutes at the NBA level by shooting 45.2 percent (28-of-62) during his rookie year. Nwora has proven that he can shoot the basketball with incredible efficiency, and the Bucks might need to utilize him more next season to bring another high-octane shooter into the fold. With Bryn Forbes departing in free agency after a career-year shooting the ball with the Bucks, Nwora could be the player to slide in and try to compensate for the loss.

Confidence is not an issue for Nwora by any stretch of the imagination, and if he were given the green light offensively, he would give the reigning champs another lethal shooter. That prolific outside shooting should get him consideration to crack the lineup this coming season in a more stable role.