The answer to the future trivia question of what player did the Milwaukee Bucks draft with the Miami Heat’s No. 13 pick in the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade is Nate Ament.
Ament, a 6-10, 209-pount freshman forward out of the University of Tennessee, was the second player chosen by the Bucks in the first round of the draft. The Bucks also selected Arizona guard Bayden Burries with their own pick at No. 10.
The word “upside” is often overused during any live draft telecast, but that term certainly applies to the 19-year-old Ament. While he needs to improve his overall strength and physicality at the next level, he’s a versatile offensive player who averaged nearly 17 points a game in his freshman season at Tennessee. Bucks co-owner Jimmy Haslam also happens to be a Tennessee graduate.
Ament did not play well in his final game at Tennessee, a 95-62 blowout loss in the NCAA Tournament to eventual champion Michigan. Three players from that Michigan team were drafted before Ament.
The Bucks were linked to Ament in many mock drafts at No. 10 and still were able to choose him at No. 13. While many early social reactions from media and fans were positive, there were others that worry that he’s a “project” and the time it will take to develop his game outweighs his versatile, arthletic skill set and high ceiling.
Here’s some immediate reaction after the Bucks selected Ament in the draft:
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Instant reaction to the Bucks’ pick of Nate Ament in 2026 NBA Draft
Reporting by Emmett Prosser, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Emmett Prosser, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
