Why Nate Ament could be the NBA’s next ‘unicorn’
Nate Ament’s upside, scoring ability, and development at Tennessee have him rising up NBA Draft boards as a projected lottery pick.
Watch: Shoud The Kings Take A Swing On Nate Ament? | 22 mins
University of Tennessee forward Nate Ament continues to rise up NBA Draft boards, with many mock drafts projecting the 6-foot-10 freshman as a top-10 pick.
After averaging 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game while shooting 33 percent from three and 79 percent from the free throw line over 35 games, Ament’s combination of size, athleticism, and long-term upside has made him one of the most intriguing prospects in the class.
Tennessee writer Mike Wilson joined Sactown Sports’ The Matt & Kayla Show to discuss what makes Nate Ament such a fascinating NBA prospect, why his best basketball may still be ahead of him, and how his personality and work ethic could help him thrive at the next level.
“When I talk about Nate, I actually would start with who he is more than maybe who he is as a player,” Wilson said. “He’s probably one of the nicest kids I’ve ever covered here. Just a quality human being, down to earth, unassuming.”
(Photo by Wes Hale/Getty Images)
More on NBA Draft prospect Nate Ament
Wilson explained that Nate Ament fit seamlessly into head coach Rick Barnes’ culture at Tennessee because of his humility and willingness to be coached hard.
“There’s a lot left out there,” Wilson said. “The athleticism is there, obviously, when you’re 6-10. There are some unicorn-y skills there, just kind of have to fine-tune those things.”
Despite being viewed as somewhat of a developmental prospect, Wilson believes Nate Ament already possesses NBA-ready scoring tools that will translate immediately.
“I think he’s going to find ways to score,” Wilson explained. “He’s a creative scorer, and I think that is going to translate to the next level.”
Wilson specifically pointed to Ament’s ability to operate from the elbow and low post, where his ball-handling and touch created matchup problems throughout SEC play.
“I thought his best offensive attribute was when Tennessee got him the ball kind of on the block or the elbow,” Wilson said. “He can hit that turnaround; he can do some other things.”
One of the biggest reasons evaluators remain so high on Nate Ament is how dramatically he improved throughout his lone season at Tennessee. Wilson described a player who looked raw early in the year but steadily grew more comfortable against elite competition.
“At the start of the year, [he] looked like a baby deer at times,” Wilson said. “Developed into a totally different player by the time SEC play hit.”
Wilson also believes Ament’s mentality will help accelerate his NBA development.
“Nate took that, embraced it, and ran with it,” Wilson said about Barnes’ demanding coaching style. “I think you’re gonna see him own the work that it takes to develop.”
Defensively, Ament still has room to grow physically, but Wilson believes his length and versatility already project well for the modern NBA.
“I think he’s a guy who’s going to be able to play defense across multiple spots,” Wilson said. “There’s still a lot of room to add to that frame.”
While Sacramento’s fit remains uncertain as they focus on a guard-heavy top portion of the draft, Wilson made it clear that whichever organization drafts Nate Ament will be getting far more than upside alone.
“He’s going to make a room better by being in it,” Wilson said. “He’s going to add positivity and goodness into those spaces.”
Check out the full conversation at the top of the page or by heading over to the Sactown Sports YouTube channel.
Listen to and watch Sactown Sports’ The Matt & Kayla Show with Matt George & Kayla Anderson, airing weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT on Sactown Sports.
More Sacramento Kings content from Sactown Sports
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What is the next Sacramento Kings Offseason Event?
The Sacramento Kings are preparing for a crucial 2026 NBA Draft, which is set to take place from Tuesday, June 23rd, through Wednesday, June 24th.
Sacramento owns the 7th pick in the Draft, giving them a chance at selecting a talented player with upside, such as Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., Houston’s Kingston Flemings, and Illinois guard Keaton Wagler, among others.
Be sure to stay locked into Sactown Sports for pre-draft workout news, player breakdowns, draft rumors and MUCH more.
Upcoming Sacramento Kings & NBA Offseason Schedule
- Tuesday, June 23rd – NBA Draft (Round 1)
- Wednesday, June 24th – NBA Draft (Round 2)
- Tuesday, June 30th – NBA Free Agency negotiation period begins (3 PM PT)
- Saturday, July 4th – Monday, July 6th – California Classic at Golden 1 Center
- Thursday, July 9th – NBA Las Vegas Summer League begins
- Monday, July 13th – Free Agency moratorium ends / signings can become official
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Comments
1 Comments
Seems like a talented, athletic F but not sure I like the poor efficiency and the defensive concerns. Might be one of the guys who's a bust imo.
Seems similar to a Salaun or Risacher type, and they haven't looked that great so far. But they're both pretty young still, and have time to turn it around I suppose.