Finally, he did it. Against the Charlotte Hornets in the Las Vegas Summer League, Nate Ament put up the best stat line of his fledgling career thus far: 23 points on 53.8 percent shooting, 6 rebounds, and 3 steals in 23 minutes of action.
This is exactly what Bucks fans were hoping they would get with their No. 13 overall selection in Nate Ament. In his first few games, we got clumsy plays, inefficient shooting, and just generally a college player still finding his footing in the NBA. But if Wednesday night was any indication, those growing pains might already be receding into the rearview mirror.
Bucks' Nate Ament just silenced even his most vehement doubters
After the first three Summer League games, fans were calling on Ament to be more aggressive, and he delivered with efficiency. He shot 7-of-13 from the field and 5-of-6 from the free-throw line, showing that his shooting touch is legit. Most importantly, he showcased a grit that scouts often found to be lacking.
How he got his point total was equally impressive. He showed it all, from midrange pullups, scoring off the catch through contact from distance, powering his way to the basket over Tidjane Salaün, and fadeaways in the low post. With one game, he sent fans a message: that while his aggressiveness might have been lacking, his skill, talent, and potential certainly weren't.
The Bucks' Summer League highlights might have largely belonged to Brayden Burries thus far, but don't sleep on Ament in these next few games. Now that he's flipped the switch, the hope is that he can use this momentum and keep it going.
Nate Ament still has a ways to go after breakout Summer League showing
To be clear, Ament is still a project. He isn't walking onto the floor as a finished NBA product, and he still has plenty of room to fill out his frame and refine his defensive instinct. But Wednesday’s performance provided the glass half-full look that his fans have championed all along.
The Bucks didn’t draft Ament to be their savior in July; they drafted him because they believe he has the upside to be a star in this league once he fully matures. Ament might not be NBA-ready at the moment, but as this game has shown us, he’s an extremely versatile 19-year-old with all the potential and physical tools he needs to be a star in this league one day. Here’s hoping Taylor Jenkins pulls all the right switches with this young man.
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