Throughout the Jon Horst era, the Milwaukee Bucks have not had a single first-round pick, of which there have been four, become more than a regular contributor. Nate Ament will have an opportunity to shatter this apparent curse, and one thing he already has going for him is that he will be coached by Taylor Jenkins, who may actually prioritize his development.
Bucks' past picks did not have this luxury
Milwaukee's previous first-round picks under Jon Horst were D.J. Wilson, Donte DiVincenzo, MarJon Beauchamp, and AJ Johnson. Let's exclude Jason Kidd in 2017-18, who got fired during the season. All of these players suited up for the Bucks under Mike Budenholzer or Doc Rivers, two veterans who rarely relied on youth and typically therefore shoved them to the back of the rotation.
Wilson had potential but averaged just 11.9 minutes in four seasons. Beauchamp was at 11.4. Donte DiVincenzo actually averaged 23.2 and got some opportunities, but he was ultimately held back due to countless injuries. Then there is Johnson, who appeared in just seven games with the Bucks prior to being traded. Four swings that did not ultimately work out as the team had initially hoped.
Some of that is on the players, but the coaches are not free of blame. It would have been nice for these players to go through more development on the floor. Now, the hope is that Taylor Jenkins can do that for Ament.
Jenkins knows a thing or two about player development
During his time coaching the Memphis Grizzlies, Jenkins' teams were always young but competitive. Why? Because he helped develop them into legitimate pieces. He didn't stuff them at the back of the rotation and rely on veterans. Players like Ja Morant, Desmond Bane, and Jaren Jackson Jr. turned into All-Stars and award-winning players under his guidance.
Ament needs a good teacher. He's raw. The 19-year-old just finished up a rather underwhelming season at Tennessee in which he shot below 40 percent from the field. Despite the concerns, the Bucks clearly believe in the potential. They gave Taylor Jenkins top dollar this summer because they knew he could bring the best out of young players. Now, he has to earn it.
Taking Ament is yet another risky draft move by the Milwaukee Bucks, and time will tell if he can break what has become an unshakable curse over the years.
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