Rick Barnes praises Nate Ament after Bucks select him 13th in draft

Tennessee basketball coach Rick Barnes addressed Milwaukee Bucks fans following the team's selection of Nate Ament with the 13th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. In a recent message, Barnes touted Ament as the 'steal of the draft' and expressed confidence in his potential at the professional level. Ament, a former five-star recruit, averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in his only season with Tennessee, displaying considerable skill as a mid-range shooter despite some efficiency issues. He becomes the first lottery pick from Barnes' era and the 11th player he's had drafted into the NBA during his time with the Vols. Tennessee's last lottery selection was Marcus Haislip, who also went 13th overall in 2002.

• 1:23 AMYahoo Sports — Rick Barnes' message about Tennessee's Nate Ament to fans of Milwaukee Bucks