Taylor Jenkins didn't care that many across the NBA believed Milwaukee Bucks rookie Nate Ament wasn't ready for a prominent role early in his career. With Ousmane Dieng opening the season with underwhelming performances, Jenkins quickly pivoted to Ament, who looks great. Once the rookie starts burying his jump shots with consistency, his potential will know no bounds.
Ament's jumper was always a question mark
This season, Ament is shooting 4-of-14 (28.6 percent) on his jump shots. While he has hit three of his five above the break threes, Ament is struggling from the corners (1-of-4 from both) and especially in the mid-range, missing all five of his shots. If he starts knocking these in, it could see his 7.5 points per game average shoot through the roof, truly unearthing what he brings to the table.
It starts with the simplest thing: hitting open looks. In the early going, Ament has missed all six of his shots categorized as "open" (the player has four to six feet of space). Playing alongside such talented passers like Jaime Jaquez Jr. and the rising Kasparas Jakucionis, the looks will continue to pile up for Ament; he just needs to hit them more consistently. Odds are that he will.
Ament already pushed Ousmane Dieng out of Milwaukee's rotation. Once those jumpers start to fall, everyone else should be on their toes.
Early returns on Nate Ament are positive
Even with the poor jump shooting, Ament has exceeded early expectations for the Milwaukee Bucks. The rookie is averaging 7.5 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 0.5 assists while shooting 45.8 percent from the floor. While the numbers might not jump off the page, they are impressive for a rookie many thought wouldn't be in the rotation at all this year.
That goes without mentioning his defense. Due to his thin frame, many wondered how Ament would hold up at the NBA level, but he has done well thus far. Through his four games, opposing players are shooting 9-of-29 (31 percent) with Ament as the primary defender. While sometimes a flawed stat, it does show that Ament is making life difficult for opponents on defense, forcing tough shots.
Ament looked particularly impressive in Milwaukee's last game, serving as one of the few silver linings in a beatdown at the hands of Cleveland. The rookie forward dropped 14 points on an efficient 6-of-8 shooting, sinking two of his three triples in the process. Most of his damage came at the rim, though, as Ament continues to attack down low.
Four games in, it looks like the Milwaukee Bucks have a special player. Imagine how he'll look when he knocks in mid-range and corner jumpers with more regularity.
Stay tuned for more Milwaukee Bucks analysis.
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