Milwaukee Bucks: 3 players to step up with Bobby Portis, Semi Ojeleye out

Jordan Nwora must be prepared to step up for the Milwaukee Bucks following frontcourt injuries

The Bucks were likely going to give more playing time to Jordan Nwora regardless of this news, but now it seems all the more likely. The 6-foot-10 sophomore will give the team another bigger player to utilize in the lineup, and combined with everything else that he brings to the table, this expanded role could be the beginning of Nwora’s breakout with the Bucks.

Nwora had clearly been the talk of the town in Milwaukee during the preseason, as he averaged an eye-catching 17.8 points on .443/.412/.833 shooting splits, five rebounds, and 2.6 assists per game. Some have dialed down the excitement because it is the preseason, but Nwora looks like a legitimate piece of the rotation for this Bucks team, and the injuries to Portis and Ojeleye could accelerate that process immediately. There is also some uncertainty surrounding Rodney Hood, who was limited to 10 minutes in the entire preseason as he deals with a foot injury. With him and Nwora playing the same position, the latter’s role could be that much more important.

With Portis sidelined, the Bucks will be without their leading second-unit scorer from last season. Hood is also a capable double-figure scorer most nights, and it is clear that he is not yet up to par. Given Nwora’s shooting and scoring ability, the Bucks would be wise to throw him out there and see if he can contribute some offense off the bench. In the regular season, the Summer League, and the preseason, Nwora always put up big numbers when he played consistent minutes, and this could be his time to prove he can do it consistently. He will not take on the responsibility on the defensive end that Ojeleye might, but that scoring from Nwora could be a difference-maker.