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Taylor Jenkins Is Thrilled With Milwaukee's Rookies After Bucks' First Win
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- Taylor Jenkins Is Thrilled With Milwaukee's Rookies After Bucks' First Win
A lot went right for the Milwaukee Bucks against the Indiana Pacers for the team's first win of the season, and some of the brightest spots came from the youngest Bucks.
Guard Brayden Burries and forward Nate Ament were both drafted by the Bucks in the 2026 NBA Draft, 10th and 13th-overall respectively, effectively making them the first two Bucks to come into the system in the post-Giannis Antetokounmpo era and some of the faces of this new rebuild.
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Both boast a wealth of talent at very different spots on the floor, but what they have in common is the youthful energy they've brought to the team and the way they've bought into the system that head coach Taylor Jenkins is building around them.
Indiana Pacers forward Pascal Siakam (43) drives up against Milwaukee Bucks guard Brayden Burries (0) in the first half at Fiserv Forum. Michael McLoone-Imagn Images
Defensive Effort From the Rooks
Neither Burries nor Ament turned in an offensive clinic against the Pacers, combining for 11 points between them, but the way they truly shined was on the defensive side of things.
Due the drastic difference in their positions, Buries being a hybrid guard while Ament is a big man that trends toward the power forward slot, they affect the game defensively in different ways, but both of those ways still helped out the Bucks in a big way.
Philadelphia 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey (0) drives for a sot against Milwaukee Bucks forward Nate Ament (15) during the first quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
"Really good minutes from Brayden and Nate," Jenkins said (via Bucks ). "I felt like Nate had a great second half. Just his willingness to put his body out there, fight in post position on defense, come over and use his length just to alter shots... Kid puts in the work. Brayden, just again, point of attack defense... Those guys just bring great energy."
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Energy and Commitment
While the offensive side of things for both Ament and Burries may be coming along slowly, that's to be expected as they find their footing in the NBA and do it while coming off the bench, but the energy that they've brought to the team already and their willingness to commit on the defensive end already speaks to the winning ways that both promote.
Milwaukee Bucks guard Brayden Burries (0) controls the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard Anfernee Simons (5) during the fourth quarter at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Jenkins' effort to turn around the team as they continue to rebuild is reliant on everyone on the roster, from the rookies like Ament and Burries to the frontline talent, to commit to what he's trying to build.
That collective effort was apparent in the win against the Pacers, but seeing it from the youngest players on the roster is the best sign that the Bucks could have hoped for from the players they used two valuable draft picks on in one of the most talent-stacked drafts in recent memory.
Minnesota Timberwolves guard Zyon Pullin (15) passes the ball away from Milwaukee Bucks forward Nate Ament (15) in the fourth quarter at Fiserv Forum. Benny Sieu-Imagn Images
As long as they continue to bring that same energy and same commitment to every game moving forward, it seems as thought the future in Milwaukee will be in good hands.
