Nate Ament, Tennessee - 2026 NBA draft - The edge of the lottery

[tontoz]

I was high on this guy over the summer but i have pretty much lost interest. I was under the impression that he was a high level shooter but that doesn't seem to be the case.

His current TS of 56% is really lame considering the weak competition he's faced. I expect him to struggle consistently against good teams. With average athleticism he needs good skills to justify a high pick in this class and i don't see it.

This post is everything that is wrong with "draft analysis".

First, giving up on a shooter 7 games into their career is madness. He's 10-34 on 3s. In the NBA that could be 3 games for a shooter. I mean for god sake man, take a breath and relax before you write this kid off.

Second, he's shooting 56% TS, but it's on 32% USG. Third, he's shooting 80% from the line with a FTR of 0.643 which is insane.

This isn't Emoni Bates. This kid has size, skill, and feel. That's rare. Honestly have no idea what you guys are watching here. These posts are going to age incredible poorly.

I've watched him several times. His skills aren't that good and his athleticism is average.

I am a wizards fan and our pick is only top 8 protected. I am looking at the draft through that lens and i am not conviced he is even top 8. I don't care about guys in the 9-20 range.

Look at the 3s he takes. He isn't taking movement 3s he is only taking standstill 3s and he has missed the rim with alarming frequency in the games i've watched. he struggles to create good looks off the dribble. It seems the only time he can create for himself effectively is in the post.

[Chokic]

Of all the prospects ive seen thus far this kid still has the highest ceiling in this draft class.

[ezhkw8u69e]

I was high on this guy over the summer but i have pretty much lost interest. I was under the impression that he was a high level shooter but that doesn't seem to be the case.

His current TS of 56% is really lame considering the weak competition he's faced. I expect him to struggle consistently against good teams. With average athleticism he needs good skills to justify a high pick in this class and i don't see it.

This post is everything that is wrong with "draft analysis".

First, giving up on a shooter 7 games into their career is madness. He's 10-34 on 3s. In the NBA that could be 3 games for a shooter. I mean for god sake man, take a breath and relax before you write this kid off.

Second, he's shooting 56% TS, but it's on 32% USG. Third, he's shooting 80% from the line with a FTR of 0.643 which is insane.

This isn't Emoni Bates. This kid has size, skill, and feel. That's rare. Honestly have no idea what you guys are watching here. These posts are going to age incredible poorly.

I've watched him several times. His skills aren't that good and his athleticism is average.

I am a wizards fan and our pick is only top 8 protected. I am looking at the draft through that lens and i am not conviced he is even top 8. I don't care about guys in the 9-20 range.

Look at the 3s he takes. He isn't taking movement 3s he is only taking standstill 3s and he has missed the rim with alarming frequency in the games i've watched. he struggles to create good looks off the dribble. It seems the only time he can create for himself effectively is in the post.

I think the issue here is you see a “small forward” and I see a skilled 4. He doesn’t need to be KD.

[tontoz]

This post is everything that is wrong with "draft analysis".

First, giving up on a shooter 7 games into their career is madness. He's 10-34 on 3s. In the NBA that could be 3 games for a shooter. I mean for god sake man, take a breath and relax before you write this kid off.

Second, he's shooting 56% TS, but it's on 32% USG. Third, he's shooting 80% from the line with a FTR of 0.643 which is insane.

This isn't Emoni Bates. This kid has size, skill, and feel. That's rare. Honestly have no idea what you guys are watching here. These posts are going to age incredible poorly.

I've watched him several times. His skills aren't that good and his athleticism is average.

I am a wizards fan and our pick is only top 8 protected. I am looking at the draft through that lens and i am not conviced he is even top 8. I don't care about guys in the 9-20 range.

Look at the 3s he takes. He isn't taking movement 3s he is only taking standstill 3s and he has missed the rim with alarming frequency in the games i've watched. he struggles to create good looks off the dribble. It seems the only time he can create for himself effectively is in the post.

I think the issue here is you see a “small forward” and I see a skilled 4. He doesn’t need to be KD.

I don't see much skill in general. I see average skills and average athleticism. He is a willing passer to be sure but his scoring skills are pretty weak.

He is going to have to actually play well against good teams to change my mind. I don't care what he does against cupcakes or what he did in high school.

[ezhkw8u69e]

I've watched him several times. His skills aren't that good and his athleticism is average.

I am a wizards fan and our pick is only top 8 protected. I am looking at the draft through that lens and i am not conviced he is even top 8. I don't care about guys in the 9-20 range.

Look at the 3s he takes. He isn't taking movement 3s he is only taking standstill 3s and he has missed the rim with alarming frequency in the games i've watched. he struggles to create good looks off the dribble. It seems the only time he can create for himself effectively is in the post.

I think the issue here is you see a “small forward” and I see a skilled 4. He doesn’t need to be KD.

I don't see much skill in general. I see average skills and average athleticism. He is a willing passer to be sure but his scoring skills are pretty weak.

He is going to have to actually play well against good teams to change my mind. I don't care what he does against cupcakes or what he did in high school.

Ok yeah I just don't think we're watching the same guy. This is not just a "willing passer". He's making very high level reads and passes.

[tontoz]

Ok yeah I just don't think we're watching the same guy. This is not just a "willing passer". He's making very high level reads and passes.

If by high level you mean slow then sure. I see a guy who is holding the ball until someone pops open. If you are just standing around holding the ball you aren't putting any pressure in the defense.

[ezhkw8u69e]

Ok yeah I just don't think we're watching the same guy. This is not just a "willing passer". He's making very high level reads and passes.

If by high level you mean slow then sure. I see a guy who is holding the ball until someone pops open. If you are just standing around holding the ball you aren't putting any pressure in the defense.

I meant exactly what I said. Just keep watching. You'll get it eventually.

[tontoz]

Ok yeah I just don't think we're watching the same guy. This is not just a "willing passer". He's making very high level reads and passes.

If by high level you mean slow then sure. I see a guy who is holding the ball until someone pops open. If you are just standing around holding the ball you aren't putting any pressure in the defense.

I meant exactly what I said. Just keep watching. You'll get it eventually.

I was just watching the 2nd half on lunch break and i could literally hear George Karl in my head saying "dont hold the ball".

I also saw Kingston Flemings guarding him and Ament just stood there several feet behind the 3 pt line and didn't even try to call for the ball or post him up. Weak

[tontoz]

[ezhkw8u69e]

:sleep:

I'm going to do the rare thing on this forum and admit I'm wrong and you're right about Ament. He's not good. Maybe one day it will click for him, but he seems pretty far away. I got bamboozled by watching highlights and not enough full games. My bad.

[tontoz]

:sleep:

I'm going to do the rare thing on this forum and admit I'm wrong and you're right about Ament. He's not good. Maybe one day it will click for him, but he seems pretty far away. I got bamboozled by watching highlights and not enough full games. My bad.

No problem. Same thing happened to me last summer.

Dude has only 1 block on the season

[babyjax13]

:sleep:

I'm going to do the rare thing on this forum and admit I'm wrong and you're right about Ament. He's not good. Maybe one day it will click for him, but he seems pretty far away. I got bamboozled by watching highlights and not enough full games. My bad.

We all need to do this more. That said, I still think there is a useful player in there even if it isnt as good as we thought. Luckily other freshman have been good : )

[shangrila]

:sleep:

I'm going to do the rare thing on this forum and admit I'm wrong and you're right about Ament. He's not good. Maybe one day it will click for him, but he seems pretty far away. I got bamboozled by watching highlights and not enough full games. My bad.

We all need to do this more. That said, I still think there is a useful player in there even if it isnt as good as we thought. Luckily other freshman have been good : )

I'm not sure what he does at a high level though.

The shot mechanics need work, but that's the easiest thing to fix and he's a willing shooter which is half the battle. But his passing is basic, to put it nicely, and he doesn't seem very fluid which impacts him on both ends.

He'll inevitably go in the late lottery but he's a clear do not draft in my mind, unless something drastically changes for him.

[SeattleJazzFan]

i excpected to like Ament more than i do. he's just so soft right now.

[BigGargamel]

I still like this guy once the first five or six guys are off of the board. It was clear from the jump it was going to take time with him. If he falls out of the top ten someone is going to get a real steal with him.

[FarBeyondDriven]

he's basically Risacher 2.0 and this is about what Risacher would have done had he played college. Obviously Risacher wasn't anywhere near the most talented player in the 2024 draft but Sarr didn't want to go there and I'm sure they couldn't risk pissing Trae off by drafting a guard so they took the 3 and D wing. Poor Risacher is often 5th or lower in FGA in ATL so it's been a disaster for him there. IMHO he should be a cautionary tale when discussing Ament. If you're not an initiator it's very difficult to get enough usage to be a difference maker in the NBA. So, while these players are valuable, other positions take precedent in today's NBA. Not sure where he falls but I have doubts it's near the top 5 like many were suggesting pre-season.

[Caneman786]

Nate Ament falls out of the lottery.

Now he is #16 on ESPN Analytics' aggregate draft rankings.

[Chuck Everett]

Nate Ament falls out of the lottery.

Now he is #16 on ESPN Analytics' aggregate draft rankings.

Guy needs to get stronger and make shots. Perfect player with NIL to stay in school, get better, come back and dominate as a sophomore.

[Upperclass]

Said this in a different thread.. but reminds me of Skal.. He's a player that will be in and out of the league before ending up in Europe.. he haates contact and doesnt have enough explosion around the rim

[ezhkw8u69e]

He's kind of like Patrick Baldwin to me.