Milwaukee Bucks: 3 biggest observations from 2021 NBA preseason

And just like that, the Milwaukee Bucks have officially wrapped up their five-game stretch in the 2021 preseason.

It was far from perfect as the Bucks managed to go a measly 1-4, but that was expected to some extent as they hardly rolled out their typical lineup. Instead, the defending champs used this time to play several of their younger players, test out some intriguing lineups, get the newcomers their first taste of game action in this new environment, and give the returning players a chance to get their legs back after the shortened offseason. Despite their sluggish record, it was still an overall successful preseason for the Bucks, which should have fans excited for the 2021-22 NBA season opener this coming Tuesday. Before that game tips off, here are the three biggest observations from Milwaukee’s five games in the 2021 preseason.

Takeaways from 2021 NBA preseason: Jordan Nwora seems like a legitimate rotational piece for the Milwaukee Bucks

Jordan Nwora hardly managed to get off the bench during his rookie season with the Bucks due to the team’s mostly veteran-oriented rotation, but the potential was always there. With several of Milwaukee’s regular rotational pieces missing time in the preseason for various reasons, Nwora saw an increased workload, which gave him the perfect opportunity to prove himself potentially worthy of a rotation spot in 2021-22.

Across five games, Nwora caught some well-deserved attention as he averaged 17.8 points while shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from deep in 23.7 minutes per game. Nwora has had a knack for scoring and shooting the basketball dating back to his days collegiately, and he specifically showed the latter during the preseason. Heaving an average of 6.8 shots from behind the arc on average, the forward was incredibly efficient in the bigger picture. That outside shot is the strongest attribute in his arsenal and the biggest way that he could help the Bucks if he was given a bigger role this season.

Last season, Nwora was typically categorized as a one-dimensional player that was solely capable of scoring the basketball. His defense was among the weakest aspects of his game, which was yet another reason why it was hard for him to play under such a defensive-minded team. Although his defense was not sensational in the preseason, Nwora looked better on that side of the ball. That is also applicable to his passing ability, another big talking point from last season. Having tallied only seven assists in 274 minutes in 2020-21, passing was something he needed to work on. Rather than constantly looking to score on every possession, Nwora did facilitate and dish out 13 assists in 119 preseason minutes.

Although there is still room for improvement, that is to be expected from a 23-year-end entering his second NBA season. At this point, there is no ceiling on Nwora’s potential. He has shown that he might be a hidden gem for the Bucks, but only time will tell if his strong preseason showing is enough to help him carve out a role during the 2021-22 NBA season.