Milwaukee Bucks: 3 burning questions following the 2021 preseason
By Dalton Sell
Did Jordan Nwora prove in the preseason that he should be in the rotation for the Milwaukee Bucks?
No Bucks player raised their individual stock during the preseason more than Jordan Nwora did. With Milwaukee’s regular starters and several key bench pieces missing time, the forward saw a more prominent role, and he took advantage by stringing together some impressive games.
Averaging 23.7 minutes across five games, Nwora looked great on the offensive end by tallying 18.7 points, five rebounds, and 2.6 assists per contest. The forward is known for his prolific ability to score the basketball, and he showed it throughout the preseason by shooting 44.3 percent from the field and 41.2 percent from behind the arc. Numbers like that, albeit preseason numbers, could certainly help warrant the sophomore a spot in the rotation off the bench. His defense and passing are still both a work in progress, but those things will improve with time.
With Budenholzer confirming that the injuries to Portis and Ojeleye will force them to miss time in the regular season, Nwora might be thrust into the rotation regardless. While Nwora will not take on the defensive responsibility that was waiting for Ojeleye, he could aim to replicate that scoring output from Portis that made him so valuable for the Bucks last season. Nwora could come in and give the Bucks double figures with the right opportunity, and the door may have just opened.