Jordan Nwora returns to Milwaukee while working to become a more well-rounded player for Indiana Pacers
It's only been 11 games so far, but Jordan Nwora has already shown growth since joining the Indiana Pacers at the trade deadline last month. The 24-year old is averaging career high numbers in points, assists, and steals per game while knocking down a higher percentage of his shots than he ever did with the Milwaukee Bucks. His start with a new franchise has been excellent.
Opportunity has played a part as Nwora is averaging over 20 minutes per game, which is more than he ever played with the Bucks. But his efficiency, skill development, and play finishing have all looked great since being traded to Indiana, and it has the Pacers searching for what he could be one day.
"Obviously. I'm getting more opportunities here... I'm just happy I'm getting an opportunity now," Nwora said earlier this week. "This is an opportunity I wasn't really getting in my last spot. I'm getting a chance to learn and grow with these guys."
By his last spot, the young forward means Milwaukee. He spent the first two and a half seasons of his career with the Bucks, where he won a championship and proved to be worthy of a second contract.
"I'm just looking forward to going there and [playing]," Nwora said of returning to Milwaukee, which will happen tonight. He thinks it will be fun to be back in Fiserv Forum.
With the Bucks, he had a small role. The 24-year old didn't play a ton and mostly was tasked with spotting up and being a weapon while Jrue Holiday, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Khris Middleton did their thing. That team didn't need Nwora to be more than a shooter and play finisher.
The Pacers, meanwhile, are building and developing more skills, and they are hoping the 2020 second round pick can do more than just score. So far, he has. He has passed more, dribbled more, and overall flashed more skills than he had an opportunity to in Milwaukee.
"I feel like here, they're putting me more in a position to do what I naturally do as opposed to Milwaukee where I was more spot up, be in the corner, play around three guys," Nwora said. "Not that that's wrong, three of the best players in the world [there]. Here it's different. The ball is popping, it's moving, everybody's getting a touch," he added. The young forward said the Pacers offensive plan just makes things move.
That has helped the new Pacer. Since the All-Star break, Nwora is averaging 13.9 points per game and has scored in double figures in eight straight games. He has seized his extra chances with the blue and gold so far.
Nwora is still nailing enough of his threes to be a perimeter weapon. But he's also made plays after putting the ball on the floor, he's found his teammates with crisp passes, and he's added more as a connecting piece. He feels as if his natural role is finding positions to put the ball in the basket, but he has been given the chance to do more than that with the Pacers.
His relationships with his teammates have improved in the month that Nwora has been with Indiana, and that has allowed him to make better reads when he is tasked with making plays that don't involve scoring. His passing has been effective, even though they have mostly been simple. He isn't limited to getting a shot up when he catches the rock.
"Nwora ended up with 20 points. He's a guy that I think, too, that at the wing and the four position, can be a bit of a playmaker as well," Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle said after the Pacers lost to the Pistons on Monday. "And I think this is going to be a challenge for him to try to adopt that kind of feel for both elements, the scoring and the playmaking, without overcommitting to one or the other. I think he's got some unique qualities, and I think he's got a chance to be able to do that."
That night, Nwora had three assists. In five of his 11 games with the blue and gold, he's had at least two assists. For a player not known for his ability to set up his teammates, the forward has stepped up in that department.
Part of that comes down to development. Instead of being asked to work on certain skills that help the Bucks win, Nwora is now tasked with improving many abilities at once. One of those is playmaking, and more specifically, making good decisions after putting the ball on the floor.
"It's good to see what he can do with the ball. He needs to have the right balance of dribbling it, looking to make the play, and when to get off of it and not to over dribble. The system he came from, he was not one of the primary playmakers," Carlisle said. "He has shown he can do some of that stuff with us. We've just got to figure out what's reasonable to be able to take advantage of those qualities that he has. What you want, ultimately, is to be able to have a balance without losing his aggression to score, which is kind of the natural thing that he brings to the game."
Carlisle added that Nwora is going to slot in as both a three and a four for Indiana at times going forward. In college, the forward usually played as a four. With the Bucks, he was typically a three. Having the ability to do both will add to his versatility with the blue and gold, especially if he can be a reliable passer every so often.
"You know the NBA now, it's positionless basketball. Whenever any of us are out there, it's filling open spots and playing to your strengths," Pacers forward Oshae Brissett said of his and Nwora's roles of late.
Nwora feels comfortable with the Pacers in multiple roles, which makes it easy for him to grow. So far, he's had success at two different positions.
He will hope to have success with different play styles, too. In the past, it's been a lot of shooting and scoring. Now, his play style might involve more reps breaking down a defense and passing.
Scoring comes more naturally to Jordan Nwora, but he's ready to take on the challenge of improving in other areas. He will get the chance to show off some growth tonight in Milwaukee, where he spent the early portions of his career.
"It's tough being there. They're trying to win right now," Nwora said of the Bucks. "You don't get the chance to really prove yourself. But now I'm getting that shot."
Tonight, he will attempt to prove himself further against a familiar foe.
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