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[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Nets vs. Minnesota Timberwolves preview: Thursday night hoops

Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images

The Brooklyn Nets are a few games away from the off-season while the Minnesota Timberwolves hope to improve their playoff odds.

A few more shifts to go. The Brooklyn Nets were in Texas to face the Dallas Mavericks on Monday night and came away with a four point win. The team has been off since then so everyone got a chance to get some much needed rest and relaxation.

The opponent tonight is coming off of the wildest regular season games in recent memory. It took two overtimes and a dash of luck, but the Minnesota Timberwolves were able to survive a Nikola Jokic 61/10/10 game to hold on and beat the rival Denver Nuggets on Tuesday night in an instant classic. The Wolves come into this game tied with the LA Clippers for sixth place in the Western Conference standings, but they have the tiebreaker.

Where to follow the game​

WLNY (Channel 55) on TV. Gotham Sports on the app. WFAN on the radio. Tip after 7:30 p.m. ET.

Injuries​

It was announced on Wednesday that Noah Clowney will miss the remainder of this season due to an ankle sprain. Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Day’Ron Sharpe, DeAnthony Melton, and Ziaire Williams are out. D’Angelo Russell is probable with right ankle soreness. Jalen Wilson is questionable with right ankle soreness.

Terrence Shannon Jr is out with a right groin strain.

The game​

Amazingly, this is the first meeting between these two teams this season. They play again a week from tomorrow in Minny.

For the past few years, there’s been an ugly between in Wolves ownership. Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez (yeah, that Alex Rodriguez) purchased the team from Glen Taylor, but Taylor decided not to honor it and everything got incredibly messy. It got incredibly personal and it looked as if the sale was going to fall apart, but on Wednesday, Taylor reportedly gave in and will sell his entire stake in the Wolves and Minnesota Lynx to Lore and Rodriguez. Minnesota basketball is in a great space right now, and it’s up to Lore and Rodriguez to keep the good times going.

The center matchup should be interesting. The Nets know what they have in Nic Claxton, so this month will be focused on figuring out what they have in Drew Timme. He’s continued to stack good days together and as Brooklyn figures out what their Draft position will be, they’ll have to decide what path they want to go down. In the meantime, Timme and Claxton will be matched up with Rudy Gobert. For a player who’s probably heading to the Hall of Fame, he doesn’t get any of the respect that usually comes with that.

The Nets might be focused on their Draft position, but this is a game the Wolves have to have. Derek Hanson of Canis Hoopus explains:

So here’s the reality: Minnesota cannot let up now. There are six games left. They have two against Brooklyn, matchups with tanking Philly and Utah, a huge one in Memphis, a sneaky-tricky matchup against Milwaukee. They win five or six? They’re in the six-seed. Maybe even the four. They drop a game like this? They’re back in play-in purgatory, where one bad shooting night could end your season.

Yup. They’ll be helped by the returns of Donte DiVincenzo and Naz Reid, who were both suspended for one game after a round of shenanigans with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. Depth matters a lot, especially when you’ve got four more games to go on this road trip.

Last time a Minnesota basketball team was in Barclays Center, this happened:

Good times!

Player to watch: Anthony Edwards​

There’s been so much discussion as to who should be the “face” of the NBA once the big Three of LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant step away from the game. It was gonna be Zion Williamson, but injuries and the failures of the New Orleans Pelicans got in the way of that. It was gonna be Ja Morant, but... yeah. Anthony Edwards doesn’t want it, but brother let me tell you, when you’re a franchise player that everyone loves to watch and you have shoes that everyone wants to wear, you kinda are. That’s part of the job.

Speaking of the job, Edwards has got it under control for the most part. Since the All Star break, Edwards is averaging around 27 points, six rebounds, and five assists a night on 45/38/82 shooting splits. What’s most encouraging is he’s averaged 7.5 free throws attempted per game during that stretch, which is the best mark of his young career. Edwards is almost impossible to stop once he gets inside the restricted area, so your best hope as a defense is to keep him on the perimeter as long as possible. He sometimes has tunnel vision when he’s got the ball, but when you can kick it like this

lol Anthony Edwards

— Steve Jones Jr (@stevejones20.bsky.social) 2025-04-02T04:31:37.646Z

You’ll live with it.

Having D’Angelo Russell back is extra helpful with Cam Johnson being out. It always helps to have shot creation and Russell is coming off a game in which he handed out 11 assists. As Brooklyn starts to wind things down, having a vet like Russell who can provide a helping hand and take on scoring duties will help keep the offense afloat against one of the league’s best teams. It’s also a revenge game as Russell played in the Twin Cities for two and a half seasons. That’s always fun.

From the Vault​

It’s time for the FINAL FOUR!

And we are about two weeks away from WRESTLEMANIA!

More reading: Canis Hoopus and SB Nation NBA

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes - Brooklyn Nets
• Minnesota Timberwolves Game Notes - Minnesota Timberwolves
• Wolves aim to bolster playoff positioning against Nets - NBA
• Brooklyn plays Minnesota on home skid - AP
• Nets players insist winning is still goal, not tanking with season nearing end - Brian Lewis - New York Post
• Nets’ Noah Clowney to miss remainder of season - C.J. Holmes - New York Daily News
• Nets’ Cam Johnson, Ziaire Williams ruled out for Timberwolves matchup - Erik Slater - Clutch Points

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/4/3/...sota-timberwolves-nba-preview-anthony-edwards

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

3 Takeaways after MinnesotaTimberwolves chow down on Brooklyn Nets

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

Another one bites the dust. Not an opponent, but a day closer to the lotto and draft.

The Brooklyn Nets waited longer to play the Minnesota Timberwolves than any other team this year. Tanking, or should I say “pick value optimization” implications aside, the hold out wasn’t worth it.

Tonight’s opponent, connected to the Nets only through Kevin Garnett, D’Angelo Russell, and Anthony Edwards in our dreams, slugged Brooklyn by a 105-90 score. With no lead changes beyond the opening minutes of the second quarter, the game had little to offer from an entertainment standpoint.

It was a long time coming (yes, even if only six days) for the Nets to take one on the chin like this being surprise winners of two in a row. Still, it wasn’t easy to take. Here’s what we learned.

If Not Mad, Max is Fearless​

Maxwell Lewis’ season has had enough ups and downs that tagging it with the “rollercoaster” cliche would be a disservice to it. The 22-year-old came to Brooklyn midseason at the bottom of the shipment package carrying D’Angelo Russell. Then, on the first day of the calendar year, he had his first bucket, minute, and injury as a Net happen all at once.

oh my god, Maxwell Lewis checks into the game, hits a three, and then suffers a potentially serious knee injury after Jakob Poeltl steps on his foot... pic.twitter.com/Gp2YoTLEhJ

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) January 2, 2025​

Scary as it was to see him hitting a shot one second and then down on the floor a cut later, Lewis recovered from what was a fractured left tibia and returned to action on February 12th. Fernández played him sparingly up until mid-March. But since then, he’s logged double digit minutes in nine of his last 10 games.

That all led up to tonight, where Lewis got his first career NBA start. He wasted no time taking advantage, hoisting a team-high four shots in the first quarter even with nine other Nets seeing the floor in the period.

first career start
first bucket of the game @maxwelll2002 | #NetsWorld pic.twitter.com/crJ2GxMKkP

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 3, 2025​

As seen above and on a corner triple attempt not too long after, Lewis flashed his quick trigger during his early burn, certainly to his coach’s liking. Fernández has been anything but mum while encouraging his guys to unload the clips on their long range shooting weaponry, misses and makes alike.

“The only thing I can say is, I don’t care about missed shots,” he said in late February. “Some shots are gonna go in. Some shots are not gonna go in...I don’t want them to shoot like they have to make a shot. Just let it fly.”

Lewis sure did, attacking mismatches and continuing to show no hesitation on catch-and-shoot opportunities until the final buzzer.

While he didn’t always get the desired result, finishing with a lukewarm 10 points while shooting 4-of-12 from the field and 2-of-8 from deep, he never looked timid. He even did the dirty work once at the defensive end to set up Claxton with a scoop and score...

Lot of length out there between Max and Clax. pic.twitter.com/93QY0CrxY7

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) April 4, 2025​

“Yeah, I think their intentions were very good,” Fernández said postgame of Lewis and Dariq Whitehead. “They tried to do the right things, and they did it really hard, and that’s why we kept competing.”

Not only is confidence a key for young players in general, but it’s also one that unlocks doors leading to Fernández’s rotation, at least from an offensive standpoint. It currently averages the eighth most three-point attempts per 48 minutes this year despite ranking bottom five in percentage. So make or miss, Lewis has a shot to last here.

Tosan is Still Versatile as Ever​

Tosan Evbuomwan showed up one day in the bleak midwinter, flashed about as wide of a skillset as anyone has on the Nets this year, and then vanished just as suddenly as he had arrived. Nearing his limit of active games by a two-way this season, he got dragged back to Long Island just as we were starting to get to know him.

While Evbuomwan returned for one late February and one late March game, tonight he was back back, playing 20+ minutes for the first time since February 10th. For anyone worried, he hasn’t changed a bit.

The do-it-all Princeton product finished with 13 points, eight rebounds, and three assists tonight while shooting 6-of-11 from the field. Those same crafty post moves, court vision, and ability to guard multiple positions were on full display. At one point, he pumped a shot before dumping it off in the post to Drew Timme, who even looked faked out by the move himself.

Whether or not a solid performance improves a player’s likelihood of being brought back next year is a hard question to escape when it comes younger guys on smaller contracts at this point in the season, but frankly, it’s still one for another day. This evening, however, he was as flexible and functional as ever. Kudos.

Ziaire Williams was Missed...But Not for the Reason You Think​

When the topic of Ziaire Williams comes up, his lateral quickness around the perimeter, paired with his ability to hit a spoonful of threes each night, is where the conversation usually starts. Nonetheless, there’s more to it when it comes to this latest lottery pick turned glue guy’s game.

Whether coming in from the corner Derrick White style or just boxing out and utilizing his impressive vertical, Williams has quietly become one of Brooklyn’s best secondary rebounders this year. Outside of big men Day’Ron Sharpe, Nic Claxton, and the exiled Ben Simmons, he ranks first on the team in rebounding percentage this season. He’s also averaging a career-high in boards per 36 minutes...

You simply did not see plays like this from the Nets last year pic.twitter.com/kHaXFuWMFr

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) November 9, 2024​

Tonight, that was severely missed. The Nets didn’t shoot the ball particularly well, posting 43/31 splits en route to the loss, but Minnesota was no batch of deadeyes either, putting up 50/31 figures. While the field goal percentage is above average, it wasn’t always that way, with Wolves shooting a weak 41.9% at the half, but stayed a dozen.

The difference then? Appetite for glass. Brooklyn lost in the rebounding department by a 45-34 margin, giving up 16 second chance points in the process.

Being the best pound-for-pound rebounder on the team, Sharpe’s absence undoubtedly contributed here too, but you already knew that. Williams, however, could have been the next man up. Instead, he sat tonight due to “rest,” and the Nets lost.

Maybe the front office knows what it’s doing after all (joking, joking).

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/4/3/...nesotatimberwolves-chow-down-on-brooklyn-nets

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Nets lose plodding game to Minnesota Timberwolves, 105-90

Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

The clock is ticking, the offseason is almost here. Another loss adorns the Brooklyn Nets record, ending a two-game win streak, though the scoreboard doesn’t reveal much.

Jordi Fernández, in his rookie year as an NBA head coach, has been the MVP of the Brooklyn Nets. Truly quantifying the value of coaching being near impossible, you can argue that Cam Johnson is another strong candidate for MVP. That said, Fernández’s strong debut goes beyond X’s and O’s, game management.

In year 0 of a rebuild, a bad team that hasn’t yet had the opportunity to acquire exciting young talent will plays extraordinarily hard. They will play together, will be resilient, and are far more fun to watch than a 25-51 record would suggest. And they speak glowingly of their head coach.

There is much valid criticism to make over that 25-51 record, which, with some tweaking in their final six games — starting with Thursday’s home clash against the Minnesota Timberwolves — will be sixth-worst in the NBA. Certainly, you know the deal by now.

But the very first step of this rebuild, hiring Fernández, looks like a smash hit.

On Thursday, Fernández left a bigger imprint on the game than he had all season. In the second quarter, he inadvertently injured Minnesota’s leader Anthony Edwards...

Just brutal for Anthony Edwards.

Hits a three, backpedals onto Jordi Fernández's foot, twists his ankle. Fernández and D'Lo saw it right away: pic.twitter.com/Ni19UDk2M8

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) April 4, 2025​

Thankfully, Edwards would return in the second half, and the drama of a coach injuring an opposing star player quickly subsided. Well, “injured” sounds harsh, given the obvious accidental nature of the incident, but all’s well that ends well.

Said Fernández: “I was out of bounds, trying to move out of the way. Definitely got to be faster than that, because, you know, this place, health is the most important thing in the game. So next time I just got to move faster.”

Of greater concern, both with Edwards on and off the court, Brooklyn kept the scoreboard close enough to avoid embarrassment. Bogged down by injuries, Fernández played yet another unique starting lineup, featuring both Maxwell Lewis and Trendon Watford, who both reached double-digit points.

Brooklyn’s best player, though, was Nic Claxton, who took his matchup with Rudy Gobert personally. He put up 18/6/5, self-creating a great many of his buckets from the middle of the floor; it was the vision — one that hasn’t often come to fruition — many had for Claxton at the beginning of a year in which opportunity was guaranteed...

Nic Claxton has 16 on 8-8 shooting right now. Has enjoyed attacking Rudy from the middle of the floor: pic.twitter.com/yPpwsdipIE

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) April 4, 2025​

Behind Claxton, the Nets shot over 50% from two, even outscoring the Wolves in the paint.

But the Wolves were much more forceful inside. Rudy Gobert put up a monster 21-and-18 double-double, pushing Claxton around and feasting on some otherwise porous backline D from Brooklyn’s wings and guards. Anthony Edwards, unbothered by the ankle twist, led the Wolves with 28, and as any strong playoff team does, they got well-rounded contributions.

They also suffocated Brooklyn athletically, getting to the line 21 times to Brooklyn’s staggeringly low count of four. Just four free-throws. Fernández brought that up, unprompted, in his postgame interview.

“You see the free throw disparity, 21 to four. We took 30 rim-attempts and 49 paint shots. So if you do your math, that doesn’t seem right. So, those are things we cannot control.”

Thanks to such few breaks, and pretty uninteresting play on the whole, it flew by. D’Angelo Russell nearly escaped mention in this article, as I nearly forgot his 13 invisible, scoreless minutes. No, really, scoreless.

When asked about the rationale for his low-minute count, Fernández had this to say: “Number one is to be get a look at these younger guys during an important part of the game, where you can see how they handle it. But yeah, he’s been dealing with the ankle and just trying to be smart with that too.”

Those younger guys acquitted themselves well, between a couple Drew Timme floaters over Rudy Gobert and 13 points from Tosan Evbuomwan. Dariq Whitehead, though, joined Keon Johnson as the only guy that could make a jumper, scoring 17 points off the bench on 5-of-9 from deep...

4th triple of the night for @dariq_whitehead pic.twitter.com/xvoeKsjWWa

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 4, 2025​

The 20-year-old is now shooting better than 40% from deep in his 14 NBA games.

Postgame, Whitehead said his focus is “just doing the right things. I’m sure me as well as the coaches have know by now how, you know, talented I am offensively. I’m gonna make shots. For me, it’s just doing the right thing and earning coach’s trust, being in the right spots on defense, doing the right things.”

Though Whitehead shot 0-of-4 from two, flashing some of the concerns for his prospects...

Dariq still aborting his drives way too early. Doesn't have the juice to pick it up at the FT line: pic.twitter.com/Wt8ywKVfh9

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) April 4, 2025​

...it was a fun night for the 20-year-old who’s been through so much injury strife in his young basketball career.

Following the loss to Minnesota, there are five games left in Brooklyn’s season. They are all but locked into the sixth-best lottery odds. Barring true catastrophe or miracle, the outcome of their season has been decided. May this final stretch bring more fleeting moments, and a blessed offseason. Amen.

Final Score: Minnesota Timberwolves 102, Brooklyn Nets 87

Nets host Jason Collins for Pride Night​

Once again, Brooklyn invited ex-Net Jason Collins back to the building for Pride Night...

@jasoncollins98 pic.twitter.com/02oiAdPEoP

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 4, 2025​

“It means a lot,” he said on the YES Network broadcast. “The Nets organization is first-class all the way. It’s incredible to see the support and to be invited back every year.”

Collins began his career with the New Jersey Nets, playing parts of seven seasons for the franchise including the two Finals runs. However, his most famous stint with the team comprised just 22 games in 2013-14, with the team in Brooklyn.

After coming out as gay the previous year, he signed with the Nets in February 2014, becoming the first active, gay player in the Big Four American sports.

“What I remember about that the most was just the support,” said Collins. “The support not only from ownership, from general manager, but obviously, from J-Kidd being the head coach, to my teammates. Everybody had my back, everybody was fully on board with me being back in the NBA, going out there to help make plays to help our team win ballgames. And that’s what it’s all about. We work so hard as professional athletes, and this is our craft.”

Next Up​

Photo by Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images

Brooklyn can’t technically clinch (at least) the sixth-best lotto odds with a loss to the Toronto Raptors in their next game, but they can essentially wrap it up. Toronto will visit Barclays Center on Sunday afternoon, with tip-off scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.

• Boxscore: Minnesota Timberwolves 105, Brooklyn Nets 90 - NBA
• Game Highlights: Minnesota Timberwolves 105, Brooklyn Nets 90 (Video) - NBA
• Jordi Fernández and Dariq Whitehead Postgame Press Conferences vs MIN (Video) - Brooklyn Nets
• Edwards shakes off injury scare and scores 28 points to lead Timberwolves past Nets 105-90 - AP
• Anthony Edwards shakes off injury, pulls Wolves past Nets - Reuters
• Nets give youngsters a bigger shot in loss to Timberwolves - Brian Lewis - New York Post
• Ziaire Williams’ one big improvement could have free agency ramifications - Brian Lewis - New York Post
• Jordi Fernandez faces backlash after Anthony Edwards injury scare in Nets loss to Timberwolves - C.J. Holmes - New York Daily News
• Nets Notebook: How Ziaire Williams improved his market value - C.J. Holmes - New York Daily News

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/4/3/...wolves-105-90-anthony-edwards-jordi-fernandez

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn’s Next Nets: Was Noah Clowney’s season a disappointment?

Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images

Noah Clowney was Brooklyn’s most intriguing prospect entering the season, and he likely still is. But his sophomore campaign left the Nets wanting more.

Noah Clowney joined the playoff-hungry Brooklyn Nets as an 18-year-old taken toward the end of the first round, a “project” that wasn’t going to get project-type minutes out the gate. A year later, he wasn’t quite the face of the franchise, but its only emblem.

He had parlayed solid, definitionally under-the-radar G League time into two weeks of exhilarating NBA flashes. We may have jumped the gun, but Brooklyn hadn’t seen a non-Kevin Durant player who could block shots and hit threes since, um, 38-year-old Uncle Cliffy?

Here was Clowney, doing that and more at 19 years old, the sole bright spot at the end of a miserable 2023-24. Then, the Nets made some rearrangements, and Clowney was the only truly young, exciting talent for a team whose entire missive was to acquire such talent.

Previous installments of “Brooklyn’s Next Nets” search for found money — players on two-way contracts, training camp invites turning into something more. Drew Timme. But Clowney, now 20 years old, entered his sophomore season with tremendous hope, perhaps even expectations. Still, he’d earned them, Dariq Whitehead was drafted one pick after him, and his intro will read quite differently.

Mileage and exit speed will vary on calling Clowney’s 2025 is a disappointment, but that’s the ballpark we’re playing in. The most necessary caveat is the million (read: four) ankle sprains he suffered this season, the last of which ended it at just 46 games played. It’s no coincidence his strongest play came before the one, nor that his promising rookie year was unaffected by injury.

Said Jordi Fernández: “What he needs especially is games, and you know, that’s why we’re excited about next season and also excited about the summer, to put more work in.”

Alas, keeping in mind the rocky nature of his season — not speculating that he was playing at less than 100%, but acknowledging the possibility — we can only analyze what's on tape. And there were some glaring flaws.

Namely, athletic concerns. Yes, if he flies down an open lane and throws down an uncontested dunk, Noah Clowney will look very athletic, soaring high above the rim. But a severe lack of lateral explosion, functional strength, and verticality have long been questions for him...

This is the key area of development with Noah Clowney, finishing in the paint. Gotta go up stronger v Harrison Barnes: pic.twitter.com/1iLNplPNBk

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) April 7, 2024​

This season, Clowney shot just 58% at the rim, per Cleaning the Glass. Among players listed at 6’9” or taller (min. 10 attempts), only a handful of very green or very gray dudes did worse than that: Matas Buzelis, Taj Gibson, Kevin Love, and Quinten Post.

Any time Clowney saw bodies, things went south. Expand the query to any shot inside the free-throw line, and Clowney shot just 41% in total. Unfortunately, this matches the eye test...

The 20-year-old’s frame has drawn comparisons to Nic Claxton’s, who was 20 years old when Brooklyn drafted him. Four years later, Clax led the league in field-goal percentage, on a handful of self-created twos in addition to the usual pick-and-roll finishes.

However, Clax was a much more coordinated mover, his main appeal at Georgia. He could maneuver through tight spaces and really explode off the ground, despite being a bit contact-averse. To this day, Clax largely avoids contact and finishes over the outstretched arm of a defender; how many times have you seen him posterize somebody?

Clowney, who is also two inches shorter, doesn’t have those athletic traits, but to boot he’s not nearly as sturdy. If he gets bumped on a drive, he’s losing control of the ball...

Will he put on bulk in the coming years, including this summer? Yes. But getting stronger, shiftier, and more explosive? That’s a huge ask, though he still could develop better touch on some of these shots.

This is why Clowney’s game is so perimeter-oriented as a Brooklyn Net. In a league this big and physical, he does not profile as a guy who can play inside-out. Try outside-in, and maybe we’ll see more of this next season, where his balance and agility show on drives...

Thus, Clowney’s going to have to take a lot of 3-pointers, and he’s been willing and able so far.

After shooting 28% on minimal volume as a freshman at Alabama, he is now at 33.3% on major volume through two professional seasons; that includes his G League numbers. He started off his sophomore campaign hot from deep, making 5-of-8 3-pointers in a game vs the Sacramento Kings just before his first ankle sprain.

At one point, we were in eye-opening territory, as Clowney was shooting 38% on nine 3PA per 100 possessions. That’s something like Kevin Huerter country, for reference. Granted, his efficiency fell soon after I cursed him with that article, but his shooting curve as a Net, overall, has been positive.

There are some wonky misses from time to time, and a somewhat slow release. This season, Synergy Sports tracked him as shooting 44.3% on “unguarded” jumpers and just 24.4% on “guarded” jumpers, nearly all threes. We haven’t seen a jaw-dropping shooting leap early in his career, but we are simply on track. Not a terrible place to be...

always nice to see Noah Clowney hit a movement three pic.twitter.com/7AoBVvIOwl

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) January 26, 2025​

“I think Noah has shown that he’s improved, not just shooting the ball” said Fernández after the season-ending injury was announced. “You know, we want the percentage to keep getting better, but the amount of shots that he took from three, it’s great to see, and see that he’s more than capable of doing it ... If he’s not going to shoot it, and he’s going to put the ball on the floor, how can he get to the rim with one-two dribbles and be efficient?”

That is the question, and its answer remains to be seen. Clowney made a couple intriguing passes after putting the ball on the deck this season, and again, given his finishing woes, a 3-point shooter and connective passer with size may be his long-term sell.

But that’s not a great sell if the defense doesn’t pop again. I don’t have a great theory as to why Clowney’s blocks, steals, and rebounds were all noticeably down following his rookie numbers across the NBA + G League. Simply plagued by injury? Perhaps.

I’d also venture to say that Jordi Fernández’s defense on the whole led to fewer opportunities to come over from the weak-side and block shots, which Clowney did repeatedly last spring, much to the delight of Brooklyn fans. Given that the 2025 team consistently traps/hedges on screens, they’re constantly defending 4-on-3 situations and scrambling around the perimeter, as opposed to being in their shell, either in drop or outright switching...

The Nets went from 12th in blocks per game in 2024, to 26th this season, muting Clowney’s best skill. He still displays flashes of rim protection, particularly getting back in transition, where his penchant for walling up shines...

some plays Noah Clowney's made in transition defense this season: pic.twitter.com/cA9mTlLAeF

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) January 7, 2025​

But possession-to-possession we just didn’t felt Clowney on defense. His start against the Washington Wizards may have been the nadir of his season, so in an odd way, it’s reassuring he was shut down right after. Maybe he really was laboring on a sore right ankle, but these plays do not reflect the hope for his defense:

• Little resistance/rim protection instincts on a Jordan Poole drive
• A sluggish closeout that is easily roasted
• Slow to react against a pick-and-roll
• Taken to school by Alex Sarr

Alright, let’s take a breath.

Noah Clowney is 20 years old, and was playing well before suffering a series of ankle sprains that may well turn out to be flukes. More of his long-term value seems based on his 3-point shooting than we initially thought, but hey, his 3-point shooting is better than we initially thought.

Plus, at his best, his lanky 6’9” frame does lead to offensive rebounds, deflections, and contests at the rim. Those moments just didn't come as often as we had hoped for this season, but the vision is alive.

In July 2023, Clowney looked overmatched in Las Vegas Summer League. In July 2024, he was one of the best defenders there. As previously mentioned, Jordi Fernández did say he was “excited” for his young forward’s summer, so he may head to Vegas a third time.

His regular season may not have been a stark positive, but don’t tell his teammates that.

“I think he had a phenomenal season,” said Ziaire Williams. “I thought he showed a lot of growth, not just on the court but just mentally. You know, it’s some days I’m like ‘man, Noah, you know we’re still in the NBA, man. Cheer up man, get your spirits up. We’re still living a dream. Who cares about what happened, whenever.’”

Then, he came out swinging with a lofty comparison.

“But he reminds me of me when I was in my second year, just wanting to be perfect, just wanting to be your P’s and Q’s all the time. And mistakes are going to happen, but he always bounced back well. And he’s an unbelievable shooter. I really think he could be, like, shit, damn near better than Giannis. I’ll tell him that all the time. Like, ‘bro, you could be better than Giannis, for real.’ And he puts the work in, so I’m excited to see his growth this summer, and then the years to follow on. But God willing he’ll definitely be an NBA pro for a long time.”

Brooklyn Nets fans don’t need Noah Clowney to turn into a two-time MVP. It’d be nice, but even the biggest believers didn’t get that excited after his rookie season. Still, with hopes and dreams pinned on Clowney, his follow-up campaign felt like a let-down. Fair, not fair, who’s to say? There are still building blocks, and you don’t have to squint too hard to see the NBA pro Ziaire Williams is talking about.

But it may be time to re-adjust expectations for Noah Clowney.

• Noah Clowney’s injury-riddled season leaves Nets with more questions than answers - Brian Lewis - New York Post

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/4/5/...ets-was-noah-clowneys-season-a-disappointment

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

The ‘other’ Mikal Bridges trade working out for Brooklyn Nets

Photo by Stephen Gosling/NBAE via Getty Images

Rebuilds require some luck as well as some skill in deal making and development. If you find a hidden gem, that’s a bonus.

Thirteen days after the Mikal Bridges trade was finalized last July, the Brooklyn Nets made another deal, sending Mamadi Diakite, a 27-year-old with only $100,000 guaranteed, and long-forgotten draft stash, to the Memphis Grizzlies. Diakite had been a throw-in in the all-New York trade, having played only eight minutes in three games for the Knicks in 2023-24.

In return, Brooklyn got Ziaire Williams plus the 2030 Mavericks second rounder to sweeten things. The Grizzlies had given up on the 22-year-old who they had taken at No. 10 in the 2021 NBA Draft. They needed cap space so they could re-sign Luke Kennard. Even without Williams, you’d have to consider the deal a nice add-on to the Bridges trade, yet another draft pick to add to that haul. Moreover, Diakite was ultimately cut by the Grizzlies, then signed by the Suns and waived before finishing things up with Phoenix’s G League team.

Williams on the other hand has proven himself an NBA player. He’s had a generally productive time in Brooklyn, improving his game, particularly his woeful shooting, as Brian Lewis noted this week. Always a solid wing defender, his 3-and-D potential was marred by his lack of the “3” in the equation. Before joining the Nets, he had shot a career 30.1% from 3-point range, and just 30,7% in 2023-24.

Now, though, Williams has seemingly turned the corner. With five games to go in 2024-25, he’s averaging double figures in points at 10.1, adding 4.6 boards and shooting 41/34/83 to the mix while starting 42 games. Moreover, his shooting keeps improving, as Lewis writes.

When Williams went down with a left knee sprain in December shooting just .273 from deep, it looked like more of the same. But he’s hit .357 since that monthlong absence, and a solid .367 in his last 18 games since Feb. 24.

How’d that happen? The Stanford product says part of it has been the confidence his increased playing time has given him ... enhanced by some work with Jordi Fernandez’s coaching staff.

“When you see the fruits of your labor paying off, it always does help and feels a little good. So, just trying to trust my work,” Williams said.

“Really just rhythm. Rhythm and just staying on track, shooting straight line drive every time” he told the Post. “But the main thing is shooting the same shot, not really focus on the result and not worrying about feet and legs and arms, just focusing … and shooting the same. That’s really about it.”

He also credits assistant coaches Connor Griffin and Corey Vinson, calling Griffin his go-to guy.

“If I had to say two names, those two have definitely been just the most influential,” Williams said. “I’ll shoot, I miss twice in a row. They’ll say one thing and I’ll listen, and the next one goes in. So they definitely know what they’re doing.

It’s not just form, either, he said when referring to the development work of Griffin and Vinson

“That’s why I’m mixing in more of working on pump fakes, and one dribble, just a little escape dribble just to get away on those hard closeouts for sure. But at the end of the day they always tell me, ‘you’re 6-[foot]-10,’ so most guys aren’t going to block it; just shoot over the top and you’ll probably get fouled and-one. It’s funny; I’ll pass up one shot that I’m like ‘ah, I don’t know if I’m open or not,’ and they get pissed. So it always does help when you’ve got guys yelling at you for not shooting.”

Now, attention will turn to his free agency where he will be a restricted free agent along with Cam Thomas and Day’Ron Sharpe this summer. He’s made $6.1 million this season and because he’s started half the Nets games and his high draft slot, his qualifying offer come July 1 will be $8.4 million. He told Lewis that he’s not worried about it ... yet.

“I mean, I’d be lying if I told you the thought wasn’t there,” admitted Williams. “But it’s not something I really trip over. I try not to just [focus on it]. I try just to play winning basketball, man: shoot when I’m open, pass when it needs to be passed. I just play my hardest, man.

“I know my agent and my representatives — and more importantly God — they’ll take care of all of that. So, I’m just enjoying the [game], just being in the moment, being where my feet are. And then, when that time comes, then I’ll get a little bit more happy about it.”

A starting salary of $8.4 million is not happening, per some pundits who gauge player value, but there are ways that he and the Nets could get to that happy medium and keep him in Brooklyn ... if that’s what both sides want. Those decisions though are in the future. At the moment, the present looks like a big improvement over the past for Williams.

In other comments to Lewis, he certainly made it clear he likes where he’s at.

“Every game is still fun. Of course our record isn’t what we want it to be, but we’ve learned a lot this year, and it’ll be even better next year.”

In Sean Marks first rebuild, he scored big with two players who he rescued from NBA oblivion, Joe Harris and Spencer Dinwiddie. Both became solid NBA players with career earnings approaching $100 million. But those rosters were also filled with forgettable names of forgettable players who didn’t quite make it or if they did their NBA lifespans were short. It’s how rebuilds work.

The same is true in this rebuild, too. The question is whether any of the young players on the league’s fourth youngest team will reach the levels that Harris and Dinwiddie did. But in each case, they, including Williams, will get the chance.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/4/4/...l-bridges-trade-working-out-for-brooklyn-nets

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Nets vs. Toronto Raptors game preview: mid-afternoon tankers’ delight

Photo by Cole Burston/Getty Images

The Nets are sixth in lottery odds, 2 1⁄2 games ahead of the Raptors who are in seventh.

Here we are. With five more games left in the season, the Brooklyn Nets universe can finally take a breath as the end draws nearer and nearer. Sort of like the five stages of death: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. We’re somewhere between Nos. 4 and 5.

Despite all of the losses this season, it has been a fun ride for a number of reasons. And let’s look at the positives…. Brooklyn has a great coach that can be trusted in the long run, the core of young guys have potential, and the team plays hard, and that’s all you can really ask for ... at this point. They proved that once again a couple of days ago against the Minnesota Timberwolves, despite taking a 105-90 loss.

This afternoon, the Nets will be taking on the Toronto Raptors in an early outing. As Lucas Kaplan put it, this will be an important game for the Nets in terms of draft lottery odds. Technically, things aren’t solidified yet. But a loss to the Raptors would pretty much mean the Nets will have the sixth best odds on May 12.

Where To Watch​

Catch the action at 3:30 p.m. ET on WLNY (Channels 10/55).

Injury Report​

For the Nets, Nic Claxton (rest), Noah Clowney (right ankle sprain), Cam Johnson (lower back contusion), D’Angelo Russell (right ankle soreness), and Day’Ron Sharpe (right knee sprain) will all be out. Cam Thomas and De’Anthony Melton are of course out as well.

For the Raptors, Immanuel Quickly (rest), Brandon Ingram (ankle), Gradey Dick (knee), Jacob Poeltl (rest), and Ulrich Chomche (MCL tear) will all be out. Scottie Barnes is listed as questionable.

The Game​

This is second game between the Raptors and the Nets in the last two weeks. The Nets lost that game in a blowout. Brooklyn won the first game back in December and lost the second on New Year’s Day.

Just like the past few contests, this game will be a test to see how the young guys do. Dariq Whitehead will be leading the way going into the action, as he played like he was the second coming of Klay Thompson with the five threes he made against Minnesota (17 points in total). From a guy who’s been plagued with injuries the last couple of years, you love to see stuff like this. The 20-year-old is now shooting better than 40% from deep in his 14 NBA games.

Fan favorite Drew Timme won’t have much to prove either, as he has shown that he can play on an NBA floor purely based on how much he hustles and the soft touch he has around the rim. I’m curious on how Tyson Ettiene can perform with the lack of guards available this afternoon. He will get some looks off of some Keon Johnson drives.

The big news out of the game of course will be lottery odds. With only five games to go, even a win by Brooklyn is unlikely to affect their chances on May 12. They are 2 1⁄2 behind Toronto.

Here’s how Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports in Toronto put it...

Raptors in Brooklyn today. At stake from a lotto standpoint: a loss would mean they can't do worse than the 7th-best odds (Spurs couldn't pass them in reverse standings), a win would basically mean they can't do better than the 7th-best odds (Raps/Nets magic # would be down to 1)

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) April 6, 2025​

Of course, barring something miraculous in either direction, the Raptors are virtually locked into the 7th-best lottery odds, which would give them a 7.5% chance at landing the No. 1 pick and 31.9% chance of moving into the top 4. Could be official as early as Tuesday.

— Josh Lewenberg (@JLew1050) April 6, 2025​

The sixth pick would give the Nets a 9.0% chance of landing the overall No. 1 and 37.2% chance of a top four pick.

Player to Watch​

For the Raptors, they will be led by 6’5” rookie Ja’Kobe Walter who has been in double figures in six of the last eight games and is averaging close to 10 points a game for the season. Over that starting stretch he’s up to 13.9 points on 41/49/100. A highly touted player in high school and a star for Baylor, Walter can score in bunches when he wants. He won’t have much help, so he will be a weapon the Nets will have to key on.

RaptorsHQ’ Chelsea Leite wrote this of him Friday:

Despite starting the season with a shoulder injury, Ja’Kobe Walter seemed to make a good recovery. He has made some circus-level entertaining shots this season and hustled hard to prove his worth. As a first round draft pick, the expectation that Walter would get some solid playing time on a tanking team was pretty high, and he has stepped up.

Other than the youngins, this game will be for all the marbles, the draft. The college season has been great, so the goal from here will be to get the cream of the crop.

From the Vault​

How things have changed! Back in 2014, the Nets and Raptors were rivals, contenders in the East. It was then that Toronto GM Masai Ujiri famously shouted “F--- Brooklyn!” at a fan rally before Game 1.

The Raptors lost that series on Paul Pierce’s dramatic putback.

More reading: RaptorsHQ and SBNation NBA.

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes - Brooklyn Nets
• Toronto Raptors Game Notes - Toronto Raptors
• Opportunities abound when Nets take on Raptors - NBA
• Toronto takes on Brooklyn, seeks to stop 3-game skid - AP
• Nets’ Dariq Whitehead continues to build trust through confident play - C.J. Holmes - New York Daily News

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/4/6/...rs-game-preview-mid-afternoon-tankers-delight

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

LIVE DISCUSSION: Toronto Raptors at Brooklyn Nets, 3:30 p.m. ET

Photo by David L. Nemec/NBAE via Getty Images

FINAL 5!

It’s the final stretch, Nets fans. We’re all counting down the days until May 12. In the meantime, enjoy some matinee hoops in Brooklyn.

NETS VS. RAPTORS​

• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET
• Opponent: Toronto Raptors (28-50)
• Tune In: WLNY (channel 55) on TV or Gotham Sports App on streaming devices; WFAN radio

Game Preview | Jordan Greene​

Injury Report: For the Nets, Nic Claxton (rest), Noah Clowney (right ankle sprain), Cam Johnson (lower back contusion), D’Angelo Russell (right ankle soreness), and Day’Ron Sharpe (right knee sprain) will all be out. Cam Thomas and De’Anthony Melton are of course out as well. For the Raptors, Immanuel Quickly (rest), Brandon Ingram (ankle), Gradey Dick (knee), Jacob Poeltl (rest), and Ulrich Chomche (MCL tear) will all be out. Scottie Barnes is listed as questionable.

The Game: Just like the past few contests, this game will be a test to see how the young guys do. Dariq Whitehead will be leading the way going into the action, as he played like he was the second coming of Klay Thompson with the five threes he made against Minnesota (17 points in total). From a guy who’s been plagued with injuries the last couple of years, you love to see stuff like this. The 20-year-old is now shooting better than 40% from deep in his 14 NBA games.

Please be respectful with your comments. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/4/6/...-toronto-raptors-at-brooklyn-nets-3-30-p-m-et

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Deadlines and Commitments: NBA Off-Season is finally here

Photo by Michelle Farsi/Getty Images

The season is ending and the rush of news is beginning. Post this on the fridge!

Is this the biggest off-season ever for the Nets franchise? Bigger than 2001 when Rod Thorn traded for Jason Kidd after drafting Richard Jefferson and Jason Collins? Bigger than 2019 when Sean Marks engineered the Clean Sweep? Hard to tell at the moment. With so much dependent on the Draft Lottery, then the Draft, we may not know for a couple of years just how big whereas in 2001 and 2019, the effect was near-immediate. You could even argue this is just another transition year in a multi-year rebuild. So not so big a deal!

In any event, it sure will be interesting and it starts this week. Meanwhile, the New York Liberty, fresh off their practice facility announcement, will be gearing up for their defense of the WNBA championship as well as the banner raising at Barclays five days after the Draft Lottery.

—April 7: NCAA men’s championship game. Florida vs. Houston. Not as interesting as what it would have been if Duke was playing, but some mocks have Florida PG Will Clayton Jr. near the end of the first round, beginning of the second where the Nets currently have three picks.

—April 13: NBA Regular Season ends. All 30 teams to play. Nets close out season vs. Knicks at Barclays Center. It appears the game will be meaningless for both teams. One more loss for the Nets and they’ll secure the sixth best odds in the lottery. One more win for the Knicks and they’ll secure the third seed in the playoffs.

With the NBA season and March Madness over, the Nets will starting working out prospects, dozens of them. Also, construction will begin soon on the second phase of BSE Global’s $100 million enhancements at Barclays Center will begin.

—April 14 - WNBA Draft. New York has the 38th and final pick in the three-round draft. Last month, they traded the seventh pick for Natasha Cloud.

—April 15-18: NBA Play-In Tournament.

—April 16-19: Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth VA. The first of the post-season draft combines, this one for college seniors. All 30 teams will be there along with international leagues.

—April 19: NBA Playoffs begin.

—April 23: Draft position ties broken by virtual coin toss. With the Nets late first rounders bunched up, it seems possible, even likely, that the Nets will wind up in the mix.

—April 26: NBA Draft Early Entry Deadline (11:59 p.m. ET)

—April 29: WNBA Training Camp begins. It will be the team’s next to last at Barclays Center. By 2027, they’ll be in their new $80 million digs in Greenpoint.

—May 9-11: G League Combine in Chicago. NBA teams as well as G League teams will be on hand.

—May 9: Liberty open two-game preseason vs. Connecticut Sun at Barclays Center.

—May 11-18: NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. More draft workouts, more scouts in Chicago for all the measurements and scrimmages ... plus player interviews.

—May 12: NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago. Where will the Nets pick? What happens if you drink champagne after taking Zanax? With the sixth best odds, the Nets would have 9.0% chance at Cooper Flagg and a 37.2% chance at a top four pick.

One other thing to watch other than where the Nets will pick. If the 76ers retain their first in the 2025 lottery — it’s protected 1-6 — the first rounder Philly owes the Nets moves from 2027, protected 1-8, to 2028.

—-May 12: Second Liberty preseason game at University of Oregon where Libs’ Sabrina Ionescu is being honored. Opponent is the Toyota Antelopes of Japan’s Women ‘s Basketball League.

—May 17: New York Liberty open defense of their WNBA title. Banner raising and ring ceremony at Barclays Center!

—May 31-June 2: Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy. The NBA’s international draft combine. Expect some international players to rise.

—June 5: NBA Finals 2025 begin. All games will be televised on ABC.

—June 15: NBA Draft Early Entry Withdrawal Deadline (5 p.m. ET)

—June 25-26: NBA Draft. Both rounds are at Barclays Center, the first on the night of June 25, the second the next night. Who will the Nets pick? At the moment, the Nets have four first rounders and a second rounder, most in the league. More than the February trade deadline, the days before the Draft is historically Sean Marks’ time. In eight of his nine years as GM, he’s made at least one move, some big, some small, within 48 hours of the draft. Last year, he made two with the Nets and Rockets that changed the direction of the franchise almost precisely 48 hours before Adam Silver stepped to the stage.

—June 29: Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin, Maxwell Lewis and Drew Timme have team options for 2025-26. Qualifying Offers must be extended to Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams.

—June 30: NBA teams may begin negotiating with free agents (beginning at 6:00 p.m. ET). Applies to re-signings as well. Nets will have an estimated $50 million to $70 million in cap space, more than any other team by a long shot. Brooklyn can tender offer sheets to restricted free agents. And other teams can do the same with the Nets RFAs.

—July 6: Free agent signings and Draft Day trades become official. Cam Johnson can be extended.

—July 7: Nets $23.3 million trade exception from Mikal Bridges trade expires.

—July 10-20: NBA Summer League in Las Vegas With all those draft picks plus a number of young players from this year’s team, Brooklyn should be one of the most interesting squads.

—July 17–21: WNBA All-Star Break

—July 19: WNBA All-Star Game at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

—Early August TBA: NBA schedule for 2025-26 is released.

—September 28: Rough starting date for training camp and Media Day for those teams like the Nets who play overseas in preseason The Nets, of course, are playing in China.

—October 10: First of two NBA China Games vs. Phoenix Suns at the 14,000 capacity Venetian in Macao.

—October 12: Second of two NBA China Games. Same opponent, same venue

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/4/7/...tments-nba-off-season-is-finally-here-edition

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

3 Takeaways from the Brooklyn Nets sloppy loss to Toronto Raptors

Gregory Fisher-Imagn Images

The Long Island...I mean Brooklyn Nets fell today to Toronto Raptors. The affair had clear deficiencies and bright spots.

Like all other Sunday contests, today was a “kids game” here at the Barclays Center. The Brooklyn Nets and their opponent both seemed to want in on the theme.

In contests featuring two squads already eliminated from postseason contention, there are only so many things to reach for beyond player development. With the Nets starting Trendon Watford, Ziaire Williams, Keon Johnson, Reece Beekman (first of his career), and Drew Timme (him too), and the Toronto Raptors rolling with Ochai Agbaji, R.J. Barrett, Jonathan Mogbo, Ja’Kobe Walter, and Jamal Shead, each team did so with both hands.

Toronto’s rugrats eventually proved themselves superior, crawling to a 120-109 win over the Nets. However, getting a win likely wasn’t the first or even the second thing on either team’s agenda. It may have even been on their list of things to avoid...as long as the Great Eye of Adam Silver isn’t locked onto them.

So no matter what, the Brooklyn Nets are going home with something tonight. What that is is open to interpretation. What isn’t, is the fact that playing your deep bench guys isn’t always pretty, one of them had some pep in his step tonight, and another made a nice tribute to “Brooklyn Grit.” For more on each, check out what’s below.

Going Young Has Its Side Affects​

The Brooklyn Nets didn’t play their cleanest game of basketball this afternoon. That’s okay, and it’s frankly something you expect when you favor development over competitiveness in the immediate. Nonetheless, the sloppy play was too abundant not to point out even with those circumstances acknowledged.

For starters, Brooklyn turned it over 23 times this afternoon, good for their most in a game all season. The effort to get back was there, as Toronto only managed to generate 22 points on those opportunities. But with Brooklyn still spilling possessions left and right, them being quick to scurry back with a dishtowel every other time wasn’t enough to sop the collective mess.

Not the desired P&R result here pic.twitter.com/BMZLSCN5DX

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) April 6, 2025​

Without any offensive structure, shooting numbers nosedived like all of our 401Ks this weekend. Unable to queue up high percentage looks, the Nets posted .476/.286 splits for the game. The first half was especially tough from deep, as Brooklyn went just 3-16 on triples.

Growing pains is a common phrase thrown around young, even potentially promising teams struggling in the present. However, you won’t find a more appropriate place to apply it than Brooklyn’s game today. This afternoon was a chaotic, but completed job. On to the next.

Reece Beekman Has Some Wheels​

Reece Beekman may not have had the strongest game from a statistical standpoint but anyone who favors the “eye test” saw him generate space off the dribble all afternoon — not effortlessly, but often.

Nice take off the dribble by Reece Beekman. Couldn't finish it but looked like there could have been a foul called. pic.twitter.com/8SylBC1puw

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) April 6, 2025​

Beekman was one of the only Nets able to get through that first line of defense and break things down. While his finishing around the rim left a lot to be desired, the setup work was admirable. He also gets conditioning points for doing all that while picking up his man at full court at the other end — a “Jordi ball” staple.

Good and bad altogether, the rookie guard finished with a team-high 14 points while shooting 6-13 from the field. In a game filled to brim with turnovers, he only committed two. In a game devoid of assists, he pitched in five, good for the most on the team.

Reece Beekman with his best half of the season in his first start IMO...few nice plays right here pic.twitter.com/yd5tKhMEpX

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) April 6, 2025​

Granted, team “mosts” and “bests” today are low bars for an NBA player. Today’s game contest featured an abundance of guys still trying to find their way in the league, who likely wouldn’t see as many minutes in any other month or on any other team. But hey, what’s the fun in focusing on that? Beekman looked solid. Let’s leave it at that!

Timme has the Grit Gene​

It may not be a surprise to hear that a guy who was one of college basketball’s best players, went undrafted, and then worked his way up through the G-League before getting his first NBA minutes at 24 years old is resilient. In a year without many, Drew Timme’s emergence on the Nets has been a fun story, regardless of whether we’re getting the first of its many seasons yet to unfold in Brooklyn or if it’s a standalone series that gets the industry axe, only making it that much more beloved over time — our very own Freaks and Geeks (1991) in Nets lore.

This evening, the legendary Gonzaga Bulldog finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, putting some sneaky moves on display in the short roll for a fourth game in a row. He dished two assists and probably could have had a few more had it not been the weak shooting game that it was.

At one point in the second quarter, Timme drove through the lane, fell down with the defense collapsing but gathered the loose ball on the floor and flicked it out to an open Tyson Etienne. He failed to find nylon, but again, most guys didn’t tonight.

Drew Timme is everywhere folks, what a time pic.twitter.com/HoBaGKv08L

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) April 6, 2025​

Despite being notably undersized at his position, Timme wasn’t afraid to get physical at the defensive. He was often the first or second guy down the court on the break. He switched onto the perimeter chase guards as well as can be expected.

.@Rjeff24 clearly loves saying "Timme!" pic.twitter.com/FJi8GyWTHW

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) April 6, 2025​

So much of what he did today looked right out of the 2018-19 season. Without much else to do right now, let’s cheers to that as well.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/2025/4/6/...-brooklyn-nets-sloppy-loss-to-toronto-raptors