The Bucks have been heavily linked to Tennessee forward Nate Ament in the upcoming draft, despite some concerns that he’ll be selected before they even get a chance. Ament is a very raw prospect at just 19 years old, but he will have a leg up on previous Bucks prospects: Taylor Jenkins. Unlike past Milwaukee coaches, Jenkins has a good track record of developing young prospects into better players and giving them enough minutes to grow.
Jenkins’ hiring is music to Ament’s ears
We’re all familiar with the Bucks’ developmental woes since Giannis Antetokounmpo’s rise to superstardom. Part of the problem has been getting mediocre draft picks due to the team’s regular season success. But another important element has been coaches not playing young players heavy minutes as they preferred to rely on veterans for title contention.
Jenkins is the perfect middle ground who can help a team compete and also develop young players effectively. He did so for years in Memphis, as the young Grizzlies grew into a formidable squad under his leadership. Even with an extremely young core, they went toe-to-toe with title teams in the playoffs.
With that experience, Jenkins can thread the needle between growing a player like Ament and winning games. He’ll find a way to install fundamental winning traits in his young prospects while also giving them opportunities to explore the creative parts of their game. The Bucks have sorely needed a better developmental approach for years and Jenkins may be the man to finally fix the issue.
Ament will be the perfect fit for Jenkins
Coming into the draft, Ament is a tantalizing but polarizing prospect. He’s flashed incredible potential as a downhill scorer with eye-popping athleticism. But his handle and strength currently leave a lot to be desired.
However, Jenkins can help him develop those base attributes while putting him in good positions to take advantage of his size and length. Ament is capable of being a disruptive defender with his physical tools when he’s locked in on that end; Jenkins can get him to a point of consistent execution. In the background, and in opportune times in games, Ament will also have the chance to show off his flashier developments.
Growing a young player in the NBA isn’t just about handing out minutes willy-nilly and letting players make all the mistakes they can. The art of player development is a delicate one that only the best cos coaching staffs have mastered. Hopefully Jenkins continues to show that strength of his coaching repertoire in Milwaukee, starting with the Bucks’ first-round pick this year.Â
Add us as a preferred source on Google