DHJ Quick Take: Ament’s Workout List Leaves Out Dallas
Nate Ament named four pre-draft workouts that did not include the Dallas Mavericks, even as national reporting has tied the franchise to interest in the Tennessee forward at No. 9.
- Which teams did Ament work out for? Chicago, Brooklyn, Oklahoma City, and the LA Clippers, by his own account.
- Where does Dallas fit? Jake Fischer reported the Mavericks among teams showing interest at No. 9, though Ament did not list a Dallas workout.
- How high could Ament go? Jeremy Woo projected him 10th to Milwaukee, with some teams viewing the Bucks as his floor.
- What does the gap mean? Interest does not always equal a completed workout, and Ament spoke before the draft, leaving the board room to move.
DALLAS — Former Tennessee forward Nate Ament named four pre-draft workouts during a SportsCenter interview, and the Dallas Mavericks were not on the list.
The 6-foot-10 freshman said he had worked out for the Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Los Angeles Clippers ahead of Tuesday’s NBA Draft, where he is widely projected as a lottery pick after one season at Tennessee.
The omission carries weight for Dallas, which holds the ninth pick and has been tied to interest in Ament. A team showing interest does not always work out a prospect, but Ament’s own account of his pre-draft circuit did not include the Mavericks, and his comments came days before the franchise goes on the clock with the No. 9 overall pick.
What Nate Ament Said About His Pre-Draft Process
Ament, speaking on SportsCenter, kept his account of the pre-draft process short.
“I’ve only done four workouts so far — with the Bulls, Nets, Thunder, and Clippers — so those teams have shown me a lot of love throughout the process,” Ament said.
He said his draft position matters less to him than landing in the right situation.
“Honestly, for me it’s all about fit,” Ament said. “It doesn’t really matter whether I get drafted high or low. I just want to go somewhere that allows me to come in and make an impact right away. As long as I’m playing and helping a team, I’d be happy with it.”
Ament grew up modeling his game after a familiar archetype.
“I was a huge KD fan. I loved Kevin Durant, and I also loved Russell Westbrook,” Ament said. “That Oklahoma City team with KD, Russ, and James Harden was my favorite team growing up.”
At Tennessee, head coach Rick Barnes has leaned on the comparison as motivation.
“He’ll make comparisons, but usually to tell me that I’m not Kevin Durant yet,” Ament said. “He likes to joke around and use it as motivation to light a fire under me. That’s just Coach Barnes. He’s been great.”
Nate Ament’s Profile and What He Would Bring
Ament is a 6-foot-10 wing out of Woodbridge, Virginia, who entered college as a consensus five-star recruit and one of the top players in the 2025 class, choosing Tennessee over Duke, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisville. He was a McDonald’s All-American, a Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit selection, and the Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year before arriving on Rocky Top.
He started essentially every game as a freshman and became a featured scorer on a team that went 25-12, finished No. 12 in the final AP poll, and reached a third straight Elite Eight, earning second-team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman Team honors. Ament averaged 16.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 35 games, shooting 39.9% from the field, 33.3% from 3-point range, and 79.0% from the free-throw line, while adding 1.0 steal and 0.6 block in 29.7 minutes per game.
Scouts view him as a fluid face-up forward who can handle in space, attack closeouts, and create his own shot at his size, with the touch to shoot off the catch from three and mid-range. His length and mobility give him the tools to defend wings and some small-ball 4s, though added strength remains a common development note in his evaluation.
Where the Dallas Mavericks Stand at No. 9
The reporting that ties Dallas to Ament comes from Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, who listed the Los Angeles Clippers (No. 5), Brooklyn Nets (No. 6), and Mavericks (No. 9) among the teams that have shown interest, with some rival executives viewing the Milwaukee Bucks at No. 10 as Ament’s floor. Fischer also linked the New Orleans Pelicans, who do not own a lottery pick, as a team interested in trading to gain positioning to select Ament.
Two of the four teams Ament named, Brooklyn and the Clippers, also appear on Fischer’s list of interested suitors. Dallas does not appear among Ament’s stated workouts, even as it has been tied to interest at No. 9. Interest reported by league sources does not always translate to a completed workout.
The NBA Draft begins with the first round held on June 23 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
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