Bucks GM Jon Horst Speaks on New First-Round Rookie Additions

The Milwaukee Bucks had two first-round picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. With the 10th overall pick, they selected Brayden Burries out of Arizona, and with the 13th pick, they selected Nate Ament out of Tennessee. 

This was a pivotal draft for the franchise following the Bucks' blockbuster trade sending Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Miami Heat in exchange for multiple players and three first-round picks. 

The Bucks have begun building their young core of the future, and they started by drafting a young guard in Burries and a young forward in Ament. 

For Bucks GM Jon Horst, this is his first draft without Giannis as well as the first time he has picked in the lottery, and he praised the incoming rookies following the first round. 

Horst described Burries and Ament as two guys who have a high basketball IQ, as well as a competitive nature. These two characteristics will be key as they look to develop as premier players in Milwaukee. 

Both players provide good size for their positions as well as upside. Brayden Burries stands at 6'4 and will likely be a shooting guard for much of his NBA career. His scoring ability was what stuck out during the pre-draft process. 

Ament is a similar type of prospect whose upside is what helps him stand out to scouts. Ament is a 6'10 forward who can seemingly do it all on the court. He had games at Tennessee where he took over with his scoring, and his playmaking ability was also good enough to help him rise on draft boards. 

The knock on Ament was his inefficiency, as his shooting percentages were not as high as many wanted them to be. Ament shot just 40 percent from the field in his lone season at Tennessee, and there were games where he was a non-factor offensively. 

The Bucks now have a clean slate with the additions of Kel'el Ware, Tyler Herro, and Jamie Jaquez Jr. Now with two first-round rookies, the team is starting to put together its rotation for next season, as well as a young core for the future.  

It's clear Milwaukee will not be competing for a championship, but this is a season that they could build from moving forward. If Ament and Burries can develop into solid pieces in their rookie year, that gives the Bucks leverage for future roster moves. 

The franchise's direction could change depending on the progression of the two, but as of now, the priority will be to get them involved as early as possible.