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[Brooklyn Nets]

How a struggling actor used a Brooklyn Nets job as a side gig

The struggling actor is a quintessential American hero, living and dying for his or her art and the art above all. He or she bounces from audition to audition, from rejection to rejection before the big moment arrives. They take different jobs to make do: as a waiter, a bartender, a dog-walker. Harrison Ford was a carpenter, Brad Pitt was a chicken restaurant mascot. Whoopy Goldberg was a beautician. Then they became stars.

And Forrest Weber was — and is — an equipment manager for the Brooklyn Nets. As Brian Lewis reports Tuesday, his big moment came recently in the Netflix hit series, “Black Rabbit,” a Jude Law/Justin Bateman vehicle centered on a hip New York restaurant.

The two stars play brothers, Jake and Vince Friedken. Law’s Jake is a rising star in the hospitality business and Bateman’s Vince a degenerate gambler. Weber’s Junior Mancuso plays a hitman who’s trying to get Bateman to pay off gambling debts he owes Mancuso’s mob boss father, played by Oscar winner Troy Kutser. It’s a star-studded cast and Laura Linney, Bateman’s co-star in “Ozarks,“ directed several of the episodes.

Despite that success and two subsequent movie roles, Weber is sticking around HSS Training Center and Barclays Center. He’s been in the NBA since joining the Spurs in his native San Antonio as a teenager. Indeed when his agent suggested he could now concentrate on acting, Weber said no. “I like my day job.”

“It’s been a juggling act for my whole career,” Weber told The Post in an exclusive interview. “Luckily for me, when I was hired by the Brooklyn Nets … and I was speaking to them about chasing these acting dreams and I said that’ll always come first for me — that that’s my main passion and drive in life — they were incredibly understanding.

That was 10 years ago.

“They’ve been malleable and flexible and supportive of my acting career,” Weber said of the ensuing decade. “So any time I’ve got a random gig that takes me to Chicago or Utah or South Dakota or any of the places I’ve filmed and I tell them I need a few weeks off, they’ve been very cool about it. I consider myself very lucky to be able to bounce back and forth between the two biggest passions in my life, sports and acting.”

Now, of course, things have changed. He has had small roles in “Law & Order,” “The Blacklist,” “Gotham” and “The Knick” and received New York Innovative Theatre Award nomination for his work in “Plan G.” But now, he’s established and “Black Rabbit” is garnering Emmy buzz.

“It’s definitely changed my day-to-day. ” Weber, 36, said. “A Celtics player (Josh Minott) asked for a photo with me on the court after the game. That’s been fun seeing the NBA players’ reactions as they come into town and piece it together. It’s been life-changing, for sure. It’s led to two feature films that I’ve filmed already that were only made because of ‘Black Rabbit.’ … I’m taking a few selfies every day with people on the street that recognize me from the show. So I’m definitely grateful.”

The “juggling,” as Weber describes it, has led to some interesting intersections between the jobs. For example, early in the series, Law’s character takes his son to Barclays Center for a game, his son dressed in a Nets’ jersey. He even says, “We love the Nets.” Casual viewers might have seen that and knowing Weber’s connection thought producers had chosen Barclays instead of, say, Madison Square Garden. Not so.

“When I saw what was happening, I told a few people at Barclays, ‘I hear there’s a show filming here Monday,’ and they were like, ‘Yeah. How do you know about that?’ I was like, ‘Well, I’m in the show,’” Weber told Lewis. “I don’t think anyone realized how big it was. They know I’ve done little things here and there. I don’t think anyone realized how crazy that moment was except for me.

“But yeah, in hindsight, now everyone’s been like, ‘Wow, that was crazy. What are the odds that you ended up filming at Barclays?’ Between that and the character knowing ASL (American Sign Language,) it was really one of those meant-to-be things.”

Weber’s big scene is when Junior Mancuso tries to convince his father to let him kill Vince Friedkin, Bateman’s character. Kotsur, the actor who plays the mob boss, is deaf as is his character. Weber, as it turns out, is fluent in sign language (ASL.) Weber’s sister Crystal uses it to communicate with family members and Weber’s mother uses ASL professionally. The sign language adds to the scene’s authenticity.

[Crystal] has been one of my biggest supporters from afar, for sure. It’s been really lovely,” Weber said. “Most of my family binged [the show] the night it came out. And both my mom, who is a sign language interpreter, as well as my sister were both very helpful any time I had a question in terms of ASL, dialect or tendencies.”

It was also one of those moments when Weber understood that, yes, he had arrived.

“Those scenes in that basement … That was super-special, just because of how full circle that moment felt getting to use ASL,” Weber said. “Acting with some of the biggest names in the industry, that was a ‘pinch me’ moment.”

And just as the Nets weren’t aware of his role, Bateman and Law didn’t know about his Nets connection until he told them. Nets fans in the know also enjoyed how Bateman’s character lost all that money betting on the Knicks. At one point, Law’s character realizes the extent of his brother’s gambling and exclaims “you all of Mom’s money on the Knicks,“ to which Bateman’s character notes with disgust and an expletive that it was Julius Randle’s fault. (Some Nets fans may have been able to stifle a laughing fit. Not this one.)

Weber also admitted to Lewis how he was able to get Nic Claxton some notoriety.

“When we are on set in the [Kotsur character’s basement] … obviously he’s running an illegal gambling operation,” Weber said. “There were player names up and down the board that our designers and production crew had decorated, and there weren’t any Nets players listed. So I said, ‘Hey, any chance we can slip a little Easter egg in here for my boy Nic Claxton and get his name on the board?’”

Weber is also not reluctant to express support for his team and his bosses, engaging in some back-and-forth with our Anthony Puccio a few months back, saying of the Knicks trade in June 2024, “[Sean] Marks ran a master class on the Bridges trade” and at another point noting, “Sean and Jordy are incredible leaders. I get what it looks like, but only time will tell, my friend.”

For the moment, at least, Weber is still working with the equipment crew, happy to continue as a Nets employee AND an actor. He even notes that there have been moments where the two overlapped. The Nets may not have known about his “Black Rabbit” role but since he joined them in 2014, they’ve known about his acting jones.

He recalled how once they were shorthanded on a West Coast trip and Weber happened to be filming a pilot in Los Angeles so he pulled double duty going to then-Staples Center.

“There were definitely some crazy days where I was spending eight or 10 hours at one location filming, and then doing another eight or 10 at the arena,” Weber said. “It’s been a juggling act for sure.”

But better juggling than struggling.

• Meet the longtime Nets staffer who’s also stealing scenes as a Hollywood actor ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-feat...-actor-used-a-brooklyn-nets-job-as-a-side-gig

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Nets can’t capitalize on Noah Clowney’s career-night, lose to Knicks 113-100

Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and the Brooklyn Nets could use the time off. Tonight, they played their third game in four days, three cities, and two countries. That didn’t help them when they faced the New York Knicks, who’ve played just two in their last five days.

Jordi Fernández would be the last one to excuse a weak effort from his team on the account of burnout or fatigue. The day he does that is the Nets Twitter collectively agrees on Cam Thomas’ value.

But Fernández didn’t get that from his guys tonight. They didn’t lack drive or focus, just the talent to hang with their crosstown rival, and we’re all okay with that … at least until the NBA Draft Lottery six months from now.

Be that as it may, it was Brooklyn who led early in this second battle of the boroughs. The Knicks, supposedly now known for their offense, started the game just 3-of-11 from the field. The Nets came out switching, and all defenders were ready for every Jalen Brunson jab step and head fake in the opening minutes.

Brooklyn’s offense was no model of efficiency either, but it was one of resiliency, and good enough to have them up two after the end of the first. The Nets tallied seven second chance points in the quarter, surely benefitting from Mitchell Robinson’s absence. Fresh off his big game, Tyrese Martin was a big part of that, notching two first-quarter offensive boards to lead the team. Clowney led in the scoring department with eight, catching and stepping into a three right over Jordan Clarkson a few seconds before the horn. That wasn’t he last one he made either…

.@NoahClowney….YOU BET!

8 points in the 1Q for Stretch pic.twitter.com/HVPfxvUonm

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 25, 2025

Jalen Wilson and Drake Powell joined Martin as the sixth, seventh, and eighth men tonight. They stayed on the floor to begin the second as well, but even with those young lambs running around the perimeter, it was the bigs that New York targeted in the second.

Clowney’s already made notable strides this season by leveraging his size like a true big would, but defending larger centers backing him down against the basket might never be his forte. The Knicks sure thought that too, isolating Karl Anthony Towns on him a handful of times in the first half, even their first two possessions of the game. In fairness, KAT also took Day’Ron Sharpe and Nic Claxton the rack once or twice, but it all added up to 28 first half point in the paint for New York and a 51-48 halftime lead.

The Knicks led by as many as a dozen in the second period but struggled everywhere else outside of the paint, hitting just three mid-range shots and going 3-of-14 from deep in the first half. That was enough to mask Michael Porter Jr.’s rocky start to the game. While MPJ has a God-given talent for hitting jumpers nobody else can (or should) get off, in the first half, he just looked like a regular guy taking bad shots, shooting just 4-of-12 from the field. Regardless, his backup on the depth chart, Ziaire Williams, logged a DNP.

Fernández said that Williams had no injury concerns and that it was his decision to keep him vaulted.

“I wanted to challenge him with his defense,” he said. “Last year, he was elite at a lot of the things that we care about defensively, from ball pressure, to deflections, to being bigger on defense, to defending isolations, and he was huge. I haven’t felt that energy, and then I can go through the numbers, and they were not there. So, I challenged him to do it.

“I wasn’t all the way happy with the last two games, and I just gave the chance to JWil, who has always been ready. Whether I play him more or less, he’s always there for his teammates. It is not about me being right or wrong. It’s just about giving an opportunity to somebody else to refocus, to be ready for the next opportunity, and when it comes, take it, sustain it and be the best defensive player on the team.”

While not to the level of Ziaire’s, Dëmin also had a quiet first half. He put in just five points, but did get two off a steal from Mikal Bridges. For any Brooklyn fans still sour over his exit, please watch and enjoy…

Egor Dëmin steal → Egor Dëmin bucket pic.twitter.com/jEewWene24

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 25, 2025

New York got it back up to double digits roughly halfway through the third. Brunson and Towns operated individually for much of the first half, but brought in a few points together via their two-man game there. The Knicks also matched their 3-point output for the entire first half less than eight minutes into the third. You knew they would eventually start making them, and that’s exactly what happened, going 6-of-10 from deep in the frame. Powell may have gotten the last one, stepping back on Tyler Kolek to nail his second triple of the quarter at the buzzer, but the Nets still went into the fourth behind by an 89-75 score.

Clowney, however, blamed the swing on the slow pace they moved at when they came back out of the tunnel.

“I think immediately, when we came out, instead of trying to get the quick hits in transition and playing in the flow of the game, we immediately slowed down and went into half court sets instead of what we were doing to keep us in the game in the first place,” he said. “I think that’s been a common trend in a lot of games. You don’t really want to slow down with a team like that.”

Fernández went with Martin, Wilson, Clowney, Sharpe, and Powell to open the fourth, who got it back to a 10-point game with 10:24 to go. Powell continued to target Kolek and get good results in the process. He finished with 15 points and four assists, shooting 5-10 from the field and 2-6 from deep. Both the assists and points were career-high that he’ll surely surpass.

“I consider him a very, very good defender with a really high ceiling defensively, and I’m going to keep challenging to be better,” Fernández said of the UNC product. “Then, offensively, he saw the ball go in tonight. He’s got to keep trusting the shot…He’s got to be comfortable shooting it a little faster. This is just going to come to time and work, which I think will be okay, but I’m happy with how he looked out there. Ended up shooting six threes. Could have shot a few more, but I like the way he played. He looked free out there.”

Another tough make from Drake Powell. He's picking on Kolek here in the fourth. pic.twitter.com/AL7LBfcsVL

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) November 25, 2025

Not long after, KAT finished and-one. He took a tough fall in the process though, and after hitting the free throw, Ariel Hukporti got up off the bench, assumedly ready to come in for New York’s best player all night.

But what seemed like a faint opportunity for the Nets to come back quickly revealed itself to be anything but. Without a dead ball to bring him out, Towns stayed in and hit a deep three a few plays later. That propelled New York on a 7-2 jolt that put the Nets behind 19 with 6:37 to play.

That essentially pushed the game beyond Brooklyn’s reach, but they still poked and clawed at it, and got Clowney a career-night in the process. After knocking in three more triples in the fourth, he reached career-bests in scoring (31 PTS) and threes made (7) for a game.

Towns was the only one to score more than him tonight, reaching 37 points by the end of the evening. Still, Clowney had dueled a guy known by many as the best shooting center of all-time, using his favorite weapon against him in the process. That’s a win for him, even if he didn’t recognize it.

“I didn’t look at it that way,” Clowney said of going toe-to-toe with KAT. “I looked at it as a team game and their team beat our team, to be honest.”

For these Nets, that’s also a win, even if he and the standings don’t recognize that either.

Final: New York Knicks 113, Brooklyn Nets 100

Rodney Rogers honored​

The Barclays Center held a moment of silence for New Jersey Net and Wake Forest legend Rodney Rogers before tonight’s game. He passed away last week at age 54. Rogers was a major part of New Jersey’s deep postseason runs in 2003 and 2004.

The Nets held a moment of silence at Barclays Center before tonight's game for Rodney Rogers pic.twitter.com/U2iWOOSavd

— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) November 25, 2025

Milestone Watch​

• In his career-high scoring night, Noah Clowney also joined Michael Porter Jr. (five times) and Cam Thomas (twice) as the only Nets with 30+ points in a game this season.
• Drake Powell reached 15 points, tying his career high that he set on November 9 at MSG, also against the Knicks. They are the first two games of his career with 10+ points. He also has a career-best four assists tonight.
• Prior to the game, Jordi Fernandez also had positive things to say about 19th pick Nolan Traore’s 28-point G League outburst this weekend:
  “Very good performance. [I’m] very happy. I texted [Nolan]. I watched the game,” Fernandez said on Monday. “We want to play a competitive and winning game of basketball. It starts with the habits. I know he saw the ball go in, which are things you can’t always control. But you can control taking the right shots, make the right play. I think he had a 9-3 assist-to-turnover ratio, which is very good, so all those things are positive. Same with Danny [Wolf]. You know, those consistent steps and we want to see this group competing at a high level, too.”

Next Up​

After a three-day holiday pause, Nets will host the Philadelphia 76ers at home on Black Friday at 7:30 p.m. Philly smoked Brooklyn by 20+ point earlier this month. They’ve since cooled off, sitting at 9-7 in slotted into a Play-In position at the time of writing. They’ll probably view this contest as a “get right” game — the Nets will do their best to make it anything but.

• Boxscore: New York Knicks 113, Brooklyn Nets 100 – NBA
• Game Highlights: New York Knicks 113, Brooklyn Nets 100 (Video) – NBA
• Jordi Fernández after 113-100 loss to the Knicks (Video) – YES Network
• Noah Clowney on the Nets loss (Video) – YES Network
• Drake Powell after 113-100 loss to the Knicks (Video) – YES Network
• Isola previews the upcoming schedule (Video) – Frank Isola & Nancy Newman – YES Network
• Knicks beat Nets 113-100 for 12th straight win over Brooklyn – AP
• Karl Anthony-Towns leads Knicks to 12th straight win over Nets – Reuters
• Knicks extend dominance over Nets to historic level as Karl-Anthony Towns pours in 37 points – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Mitchell Robinson’s agent playing role in Knicks center’s load management plan – Stefan Bondy – New York Post
• Karl-Anthony Towns dominates as Knicks top Nets despite Noah Clowney’s career night ($) – Kristian Winfield – New York Daily News
• Kristian Winfield: Karl-Anthony Towns’ 37-point night right on time for Knicks’ struggling star ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Tyrese Martin is making his case with the Nets ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets rookie Nolan Traore earns Jordi Fernandez praise after 28-point performance in G League – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
• Nets’ Jordi Fernandez explains Ziaire Williams not playing vs. Knicks – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-scor...nicks-113-100-noah-clowney-karl-anthony-towns

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Drake Powell, no longer a reach, showing two-way upside for Brooklyn Nets

Drake Powell entered the NBA with a label he didn’t ask for.

After being selected, No. 22 overall in June’s NBA draft, the UNC product was tagged by some executives as the draft’s biggest “reach” in ESPN’s overall draft survey that polled over 20 anonymous NBA executives and scouts, asking for their thoughts on the incoming rookie class for the 2025-26 NBA season.

Sure, he had been projected a lot higher coming out of high school when the worldwide leader had him as the No. 14 college recruit and other recruiting services had him at No. 9 and 11 nationally. But the word was his freshman year at North Carolina was deemed a disappointment. So he dropped, thus the “reach” tag.

In ESPN’s final mock draft, Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo had Powell, then 19, projected as an early second round pick, at No. 32, to be specific. But Nets scouts and the front office thought more highly of him, taking him 10 spots earlier. Thus the “reach.”

But the early returns tell a completely different story. In the middle of a rough 3-14 start for the Nets, Powell’s flashes have stood out as one of Brooklyn’s few genuine bright spots.

His upside was on full display Monday night at the Barclays Center as Brooklyn hosted their crosstown rivals, the New York Knicks.

Coming off the bench, Powell tied his career-high in points with 15, coupled with four assists and a steal on 64% true shooting throughout 24 minutes.

Drake Powell tonight:

15 Points
4 Assists
1 Steal
64 TS%

Baller pic.twitter.com/fguerEbLjz

— Brooklyn Netcast (@BrooklynNetcast) November 25, 2025

Coming off the bench, the 20-year-old has played at least 14 minutes in nine straight games, as Sharif Phillips-Keaton noted. In seven of the nine, he’s played 20 or more.

“Just out there playing basketball, trying to be aggressive, and just trusting myself, my teammates, and my coaches,” Powell said of his stellar performance Monday night. “Versatility is a big thing for me, and I do my best to make the right basketball play.”

Drake Powell finished with 15 points off the bench against the Knicks. The guard discusses the game with @Meghan_Triplett and the rest of the media. #NETSonYES pic.twitter.com/Benb0DHQRG

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) November 25, 2025

“As we go, he’s gonna continue to understand the league [and] the schemes, especially defensively,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernández said of Powell, per Brian Lewis. “I consider him a very, very good defender with a really high ceiling defensively, and I’m gonna keep challenging him to be better.”

After nine games back on the floor, following his recovery from an ankle injury that he suffered during Brooklyn’s season-opening 136-117 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, Powell continues to look more confident and poised in each outing, which is evident on the stat sheet and in the eyes of his head coach.

“I’m happy with how he looked out there,” Fernández said. “He looked free out there, having fun [and] playing really hard. We’ve got to continue taking really positive steps with him.”

Offensively, he has been efficient, converting 50.9% of his field goal attempts while knocking down 38.1% of his opportunities from beyond the arc across 11 games. Going into the Nets Black Friday game vs. the 76ers, he’s averaging 6.9 points in 18.9 minutes.

“He’s got to keep trusting his shot,’’ Fernández said. “He’s got to be comfortable shooting a little bit faster. That just comes with time and work. I think he’ll be OK.”

On the defensive end, his impact is already easy to feel. The Durham, N.C., native ranks second on the team in steal rate at 2.4%. His jaw-dropping 43” max vertical and 7-foot wingspan gives him the tools to keep piling up takeaways, particularly on the perimeter. He’s already disrupting passing lanes, switching across matchups, and holding his own against multiple positions, which are signs of a highly athletic defender who’s only beginning to scratch the surface of what he can be, as Fernandez noted.

Watch Drake Powell on this defensive possession. pic.twitter.com/mIcOAKGXDN

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 15, 2025

Moreover, he’s no longer pigeon-holed as a 3-and-D (and mostly D) as he was at North Carolina. Fernandez has him playing backup point behind Egor Demin. That’s ironic considering when draftniks analyzed the Nets five first rounders, they noted that Powell was the only one of the Flatbush 5 to not play the point!

His teammates believe they’ve seen a different Powell in recent weeks.

“We’ve seen him throughout the summer, so we knew what he was capable of,” Noah Clowney said. “Toward the end of the summer, we started putting him in different positions where he was handling it a lot more. So, yeah, most of it we’ve seen before. He’s just showing y’all all that now.”

Where he’ll wind up is yet to be determined but as Powell noted, he likes to be versatile. He credits Nets assistant Corey Vinson who specializes in player development for guiding him.

“It’s been great. My player development coach, Corey Vinson, he’s been great,” Powell said. “We have multiple film meetings, and those are very important to me. I want to continue to buy into those because I think that’ll help translate onto the floor.”

At the moment, he’s playing the second most minutes of the five rookies and will likely continue pile up time on the court. That’s less of a reach.

• Drake Powell is showing the Nets just a tantalizing hint of what he can bring – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets’ Drake Powell discusses growing confidence in offensive game – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY
• Nets are unlocking a new Drake Powell ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-news...each-showing-two-way-upside-for-brooklyn-nets

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Blessings and Turkeys: ProfessorB’s Thanksgiving Review

The Nets have reached the Thanksgiving break with a 3-14 record, 6 games out of the play-in (and 1.5 games
out of the cellar, for those who celebrate). Their schedule so far has been a couple points tougher than
average, but even taking that into account, they are half a dozen points worse than the Eastern Conference’s
worst play-in teams. With 20% of the season complete, it’s a good time for some reflections. In the spirit of the
season, let’s alternate some blessings with the more obvious turkeys.

Blessing: Defensive improvement. In the first 8 games of the season, the Nets gave up an embarrassing 125.1
points per 100 possessions. Since then, they’ve held opponents to just 120.4. We’ve seen fewer players looking
lost, blowing assignments, and trotting back on defense.
Turkey: Need for defensive improvement. While 120.4 is better than 125.1, it is still worse than any NBA
defense has done over an entire season in the past 30 years. Michael Porter Jr., Noah Clowney, and Cam
Thomas are all among the very worst defenders in the league. The team’s best defenders, Tyrese Martin and
Day’Ron Sharpe, are only a little better than league average. Defensive schemes can only take you so far.

Blessing: Rookies showing flashes. Egor Demin and Drake Powell are both getting consistent minutes and
looking increasingly comfortable on the court. Demin is 11th in the 2025 draft class in minutes played, 11th in
points, 9th in rebounds, and 4th in assists. Powell is 15th in minutes, 16th in points, 22nd in rebounds, and
13th in assists. Two long-term pieces?
Turkey: Rookies exiled to Long Island. Ben Saraf started the first five games of the season, but has played just
6 minutes since. He is 27th in the 2025 draft class in minutes played; Nolan Traore is 39th and Danny
Wolf—the oldest of the Nets’ rookies—is 42nd, with just 8 minutes of garbage time. At what point does
“bringing them along slowly” become “maybe next year”?

Blessing: Getting to the line. The Nets are 5th in the league in free throw attempts, with 27.1 per 100
possessions (up from 21.3 last season). That’s especially impressive with Thomas, a good foul-drawer, having
missed half the games so far. Nic Claxton, Sharpe, Porter, and Clowney are all shooting 8.7 to 6.7 free throws
per 100.
Turkey: Sending opponents to the line. The Nets are dead last in the league with 21.3 personal fouls per 100
possessions. Sharpe is the team “leader” in this regard, as he has been throughout his career; but Terance
Mann, Powell, and Ziaire Williams are all committing more than 5 fouls per 100.

Blessing: Michael Porter Jr.’s offense. Porter has been on a tear, averaging 36.7 points per 100 possessions on
efficient .607 true-shooting despite a career-high 29.2% usage rate. His offensive EPM rating is +3.4 points per
100 possessions, 18th best in the league. Welcome to the Nets!

Turkey: Michael Porter Jr.’s defense. Porter gives back most of that offensive contribution on the other end of
the floor. His defensive EPM rating is -2.1, 4th worst in the entire NBA. This is why the Nuggets chose to dump
Porter and pay Aaron Gordon (+3.1 offensive EPM, +1.2 defensive EPM).
Blessing: Shot selection. The Nets are taking 48% of their shots from behind the arc, the third-highest 3PA rate
in the league. So far, they are only connecting on 33.5% of those attempts, well below the league average of
35.8% (and far below the 39.5% they are giving up). But the looks are there—80% of those 3PAs have been
“open” or “wide open” (no defender within 4 feet).
Turkey: Transition offense. The Nets are 28th in pace, 27th in points off turnovers, and dead last in fast break
points—almost 5 points per 100 possessions behind average NBA teams. If easy points seem few and far
between, that’s why. Their 27th-ranked fast break defense feels even worse than it is due to the contrast.

Blessing: 17 games closer to the draft lottery. Each of the three worst teams gets a 40% chance of a top-three
pick. We hear there might be some promising talent there.
Turkey: 65 more to go. Is the novelty of losing wearing off yet?

Blessing: Turkey. And gravy. Happy Thanksgiving, all!

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-analysis/102191/blessings-and-turkeys-professorbs-thanksgiving-review

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Danny Wolf’s double-double, Nolan Traore’s 17 points power Long Island past College Park

What started as an ugly game all around turned into one of the most dominant wins for Long Island of the season Wednesday night vs. the College Park Skyhawks in suburban Atlanta. Behind Danny Wolf’s double-double and Nolan Traore’s 17 points, Long Island walked out of Georgia with the dominant, 125-101 victory.

Wolf continued to play electric basketball. He connected on seven of his 15 shot attempts and finished with 15 points. Wolf continued to be a double-double machine as he hauled in another double-digit rebound game, finishing with 10. The way Wolf has been playing, the question is how soon he’ll get reps in Brooklyn.

Double-Double Danny strikes again pic.twitter.com/UDMaxBLBEl

— Long Island Nets (@LongIslandNets) November 27, 2025

Most impressively about Wolf’s game was his ability to haul in offensive rebounds. He grabbed six offensive rebounds on Wednesday, which not only led the team but also led the game, rather comfortably. David Muoka brought in three rebounds offensively. Last season, before trading for Drew Timme, Long Island didn’t have that walking rebounder. This year, Wolf has filled that gap in more ways than one.

Season-high 24 points for Malachi Smith tonight at @CPSkyhawks pic.twitter.com/4dze9rfucF

— Long Island Nets (@LongIslandNets) November 27, 2025

Wolf also finished with three assists and two steals. One of the biggest positives for Wolf in this game didn’t have to do with his points or rebounding. It was the fact that Wolf protected the ball so much better. Last game, Wolf had eight turnovers. Fast forward to Wednesday, and he only had one. However, not everything was perfect.

Wolf did have one of his worst games shooting from beyond the arc. He connected on just one of his seven shot attempts. This was by far the worst on the team from deep, and one of his worst performances from beyond the arc in the early going of the Tip-Off Tournament. Nonetheless, a positive performance from Wolf.

From one part of the Flatbush 5 to another, Nolan Traore had a much quieter game than he did on Monday, connecting on six of his 15 shot attempts, including going 3-of-9 from deep, to finish with 17 points. He also picked up four rebounds and three assists in Long Island’s victory.

Traore, who was trending in the right direction protecting the ball, upped his turnover total in this one, finishing with five.

The Long Island bench played a pivotal role in this game, with their top point scorer coming from the bench. Malachi Smith, the 6’4” 25-year-old shooting guard, finished the game with 24 points, four rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Smith was averaging roughly 5.0 ppg coming into this one.

Season-high 24 points for Malachi Smith tonight at @CPSkyhawks pic.twitter.com/4dze9rfucF

— Long Island Nets (@LongIslandNets) November 27, 2025

Nate Williams, who the Nets got in return for Timme, continued his solid play in this one, finishing second on the team in points with 21. The 6’5” 25-year-old guard connected on five of his 11 shots, including three-of-seven from deep. He also had four rebounds, four assists, and two steals, continuing to be a ball hawk for Long Island.

“I’ve always been a good defender,” Williams told NetsDaily earlier this week. “Especially on the ball. So, it’s no surprise to me. I’ve guarded some of the best guys in the world, and did a good job on them. So, this, in the G League, doesn’t surprise me at all.”

Should Williams continue his positive play, could he be in the running for the third and final two-way spot? More on that coming soon…

Trevon Scott, Long Island’s power forward, finished with 18 points and 10 rebounds, securing a double-double. Perhaps even more impressively for Scott’s game, he matched his career-high in three-pointers with four. Scott went 4-for-6 from deep and connected on seven of his 13 overall.

Tre Scott put up 18 points with 10 rebounds and matched his NBA G League career high with 4 three-pointers pic.twitter.com/PrHmLt37xC

— Long Island Nets (@LongIslandNets) November 27, 2025

Overall, there were many positive developments from this game, especially with Wolf and Traore. Six of Long Island’s players, four starters and two bench pieces, scored in the double digits. Two of the six, Smith and Williams, got over twenty. This was a very positive all-around win for the team, and Brooklyn fans have to be happy with how Wolf and Traore have looked as of late in the G League.

Next Up​

The Long Island Nets (3-4) return to the court to try and get themselves back to .500 on Saturday night as they return home to face off with old friend AJ Lawson and the undefeated Toronto Raptors 905. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and can be watched on RokuTV and the Gotham Sports app.

• Boxscore: Long Island Nets 125, College Park Skyhawks 101 – G League

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/longislan...17-points-power-long-island-past-college-park

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Nets vs. Philadelphia 76ers preview: post-turkey

Hoping all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with your families.

After the short holiday break, the Nets are now back in business, as the fan base hopes that all the turkey and mac and cheese can give the players some needed energy to push through the season as we enter the last month of 2025.

Tonight in some NBA Cup action , Brooklyn will be taking on the Philadelphia 76ers (9-8), who are coming off a disastrous 41-point loss to the Orlando Magic. Core NBA fans know that if the 76ers can be fully healthy, they would be a force to be reckoned with. But until then, the Nets (who have some injuries themselves), will look to take advantage for the I-95 classic.

Where to Watch

Catch the action at 7:30 p.m. ET on both NBA League Pass and the YES Network, as well as streaming on the Gotham Sports App.

Injuries

MPJ (low back tightness), Cam Thomas (left hamstring strain), and Haywood Highsmith (knee) will all be out. Ben Saraf (ankle) is available after missing two weeks to an ankle injury. Danny Wolf who was called up Friday morning, is also available. No word on the seriousness of Porter Jr.’s back issue.

For the 76ers, Joel Embiid (knee), high-flying rookie V.J. Edgecombe (calf), former Net Trendon Watford (adductor), Adem Bona (ankle), and Kelly Oubre (knee) will all be oit. Paul George is questionable due to his ankle.

The Game

In the last matchup on November 2, the 76ers toyed with the Nets throughout the entirety of the game as they cruised to a 129-105 win at Barclays. Since then, the Nets have been playing decidedly better and Philly is even more injury-riddled that normal. Of course, Brooklyn is missing key players as well.

For the Nets, they will be without the two stars who are responsible for creating some type of offense for the team. Now, it is one thing to be without Cam Thomas, since he’s been gone for 10 games and three weeks to this point. But now, the injury bug has hit Michael Porter Jr. who is quietly putting up the best numbers of his career at 24.3 points on 48/36/83 shooting splits. There have even been games where he has been the Nets’ main playmaker. With that being said, Egor Demin will have to play more minutes and be more effective on the offensive end with limited options. After a career-high 31 points vs. New York, Noah Clowney will need to have another career game as more looks will be coming his way with MPJ and Thomas out. Another thing to watch: how many minutes Zaire Williams gets after being DNP’d by Jordi Fernandez vs. the Knicks. No guarantees. The head coach needs more from Williams.

“It’s a very abstract question because I just talked to him and didn’t play him last game,” Fernández told The Post. “So if — whenever he has the next opportunity to play — he consistently does it, then we will see if I was successful or not. If not, it’s not on him; it’s on me to try to find ways for him to perform consistently.”

Making things a bit more difficult for the Brooklyns is the NBA schedule makers’ cruelty. Just last week, the Nets played three games in four days before getting a three-day rest. Well, Friday’s game begins yet another stretch of three games in four days, including a back-to-back this weekend. This time, however, there will be no three-day reward. The Nets will play another three games in four days starting next Wednesday!

Philly has one of the best young backcourts in the league with Tyrese Maxey, Jared McCain, V.J. Edgecombe, and Quentin Grimes who is a pure scorer (averaging 16 points on 45/38/85 on the year). Without Edgecombe, the trio of Maxey, Grimes, and McCain will have to lead their offense in all facets if they want to close out a win.

There are not a lot of games that will be like this, but if there is a game where the Nets have a legit shot at winning, it’s this one.

Player To Watch: Jared McCain

With two nagging injuries after a great rookie season, Jared McCain is slowly becoming himself once again after going down with a meniscus tear last December then a UCL tear in his right thumb during just before training camp. Although he’s still only averaging 5.4 points for the season, over the last three games, McCain has averaged 12.6 points along with more minutes. This so many teammates, including Edgecombe out, expect him to continue this streak as he gets more comfortable as the games go on.

“I think the biggest thing is the 3-balls for me,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse said after Sunday’s loss talking about McCain’s need to step up. “I know I keep saying that, but we do need that production from him, and he found some of those as well. I think it’s great that he gets up to 25. I mean, especially with VJ (Edgecombe) not playing, we definitely needed to fill those minutes.”

From the Vault

Tyrese Maxey is leading the NBA in minutes, filling the box score and leading his team. And as if he needed more challenges, NBC Sports had a new and different one on Thanksgiving Day. Maxey, a known lover of dogs and quite familiar with agility, hosted the National Dog Show’s canine agility challenge.

Best in show indeed!

More reading: Liberty Ballers, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Philadelphia 76ers Game Notes – Philadelphia 76ers
• 76ers visit Nets Friday in NBA Cup group stage – AP
• Jordi Fernandez benched Nets’ Ziaire Williams in hopes of sparking his defensive potential – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Young Nets team rife with question marks around veteran leaders – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Inside Noah Clowney’s rise from prospect to Nets starter ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets rookie first-round pick nearing return from extended injury absence – Erik Slater – Clutch Points

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-game...ets-vs-philadelphia-76ers-preview-post-turkey

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Nets struggle without Porter, lose to 76ers 115-103 as Demin scores 23

The Philadelphia 76ers were not in a giving mood this Black Friday. Having already squandered their 6-1 start to the season by going 3-7 since, Philly entered the Barclays Center as desperate as a shopper sleeping outside a store ahead this retail-related national “holiday.”And the Nets, like many unfortunate bystanders before online shopping took over, got trampled.

Brooklyn had to handle Philly without their leading scorer as well. Michael Porter Jr sat out his first game of the season tonight. He was the one with back tightness, but it was the Nets on the floor who looked stiff.

As we all know by now, MPJ carries a rare skillset which often allows him to turn possessions going nowhere into two or three points. It’s been useful so far this year considering the limited offensive firepower the Nets have rostered, but tonight, without he or Cam Thomas, driving down the floor became like driving down a dead-end road.

Brooklyn did its best to avoid getting in those situations early on. Even with a healthy MPJ or CT out there, it’s not like Jordi Fernández wants every possession to end with a desperation heave, but the Nets seemed to make an even stronger effort to avoid those situations tonight, playing an aggressive brand of offense, unafraid to let it fly early in the shot clock.

It was a chess move that made sense, but didn’t render an advantage. The Nets started the game 1-of-10 from deep, 8-of-22 from the field, and fell behind the 76ers 31-23 after the first. Their lack of shooting, spacing and ball-handling also caught up to them down the stretch of the frame, where the Nets committed five turnovers.

Egor Dëmin, forced to face Philly’s tight ball-pressure, was among the many who struggled early, giving away one possession and starting 0-of-3 from the field. In fact, at the end of the first half, the scoreboard showed a goose egg. He also faced matchup nightmares at the other end dealing with the far more athletic Quentin Grimes and Tyrese Maxey, who combined for 41 points tonight.

“They’re really good players, which is not an excuse for myself or any body else, definitely, and I think that’s my next step where I have to really get on the next level to guard players like that, who are really quick, really aggressive, physical, and they’ve been in the league for a while,” Demin said. “That’s kind of a goal for myself.”

Dëmin would have more to say on the court later on, but things got worse before that. Brooklyn’s weak start was enough to make Philly comfortable starting Kyle Lowry to begin the second quarter, who has played a total of three minutes all season so far for Philly. He didn’t do a whole lot out there, but his teammates quickly pushed the contest into blowout territory.

You all know Paul George, who added six in the period. But Brooklyn also got beat by Adem Bona in the second, who contributed six points and outscored each still struggling Net minus Nic Claxton and Tyrese Martin. This made it one of Brooklyn’s more frustrating quarters after putting together several promising ones over the past few weeks, even if they were outscored in them.

“I think the biggest challenge is to ask the team to play hard and play focused, and we’re back to square one,” Jordi Fernández said. “And it happens…But when you are asking to play really hard and stay focused, you’re not coaching. Right now, that’s a little of what we have. The last three games there was maybe some sort of like, we felt good because we were better in that five game stretch, and the Boston game was the beginning of that five game stretch. Then, we started a new one, and go to Toronto, not ready, come back with the Knicks, the energy level’s not all the way through, and tonight we start. We have to just be responsible, all of us, on how we approach games and all that stuff.”

Roughly halfway through the second, Terance Mann didn’t crash the class with enough urgency, allowing Bona to swoop in, push him aside, and grab a rebound that he then flushed to give the 76ers a 13-point lead around the eight minute mark of the third. Terance Mann did redeem himself a few minutes later, snatching and offensive rebound off a missed free throw to help his team put together as gritty of a 3-point play as you’ll find.

However, the Sixer advantage ballooned to as many as 20 in the period. The Philly offense benefitted significantly from Brooklyn’s poor shooting, rebounding and running to pull in 13 fast break points in the second. They reached 31 by the end of the game. The Philly guards continued to generate easy offense in the half court as well, taking turns blowing by Mann, Dëmin, and even Drake Powell, who’s received high praise for his two-way capabilities this season. No matter. The Net offense mustered .385/.211 splits in the first half and went into the break down 63-48.

Also of note, Danny Wolf checked in the first non-garbage time minutes of his career in period two, coming off the bench around the six minute mark of it. He played alongside Claxton and Clowney, likely making that Brooklyn’s biggest lineup of the season. He played even more in the second half, eventually logging 12 minutes, five points, five rebounds, and two assists.

“I thought he looked super confident, and I really liked the way he got on the court, just really confident, like he’s been there before,” Dëmin said of his fellow rookie. “He’s been playing basketball for a while and he’d been in college for a couple of years so he knows how it is. I thought he was ready and he had some impact, for sure.”

Wolf said after the game that no one had told him he’d be playing his first extended NBA minutes only hours following his call-up from Long Island where he had averaged 20 and 10 over seven games.

“I was just waiting, and they say be ready, but you don’t really know what that entails,” he told the media. “My feet were under me better in the 2nd half. Towards the end, I finally felt like myself.”

Our closest resemblance of a competitive contest came in the third, where the Nets enjoyed an extended 11-2 run in the heart of the period. Brooklyn matched its total output of threes in the entire first half (4) roughly seven minutes into the third.

Ziaire Williams was a big part of that run. He got his first start of the season after Jordi Fernández neglected to play him at all last time out.

“I wanted to challenge him with his defense,” Fernández said Monday. “Last year, he was elite at a lot of the things that we care about defensively, from ball pressure, to deflections, to being bigger on defense, to defending isolations, and he was huge. I haven’t felt that energy, and then I can go through the numbers, and they were not there. So, I challenged him to do it…It is not about me being right or wrong. It’s just about giving an opportunity to somebody else to refocus, to be ready for the next opportunity, and when it comes, take it, sustain it and be the best defensive player on the team.”

Jordi Fernández’s couldn’t speak postgame on how satisfied he was with Williams’ redemption efforts tonight, noting that he needs to go back and watch the film first, but that shot from him had Barclays Center at its loudest Friday night.

Low bar, but Nets offense looking it's best here in the third. BKN cuts it to 10. We may get a game after all. pic.twitter.com/NbfaNSKQjs

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) November 29, 2025

Well, not counting the ovation for Queen Latifah. Yeah, it’s just that kind of a season.

The next three came off Dëmin’s fingertips and briefly brought the Philly lead back to single digits, but the Sixers then swung back with a 5-0 jolt. They pushed it back up to as many as 19 in the period and 15 with only a few seconds left in the quarter. However, that was enough time for Tyrese Martin to get off a heave at the buzzer, which make it an 87-75 game entering the final frame.

Speed.
Pace.
Skill.

Tyrese Martin (16 PTS) beats the 3Q buzzer!

PHI-BKN • East Group B@emirates NBA Cup on NBA League Pass pic.twitter.com/XBbEJ6Hrxx

— NBA (@NBA) November 29, 2025

Martin hit another one at the top of the key to begin the fourth which again made it a 10-point contest, but the Sixers did the same thing the last time Brooklyn got close — stiff-arming their comeback attempts until they reached the goal line.

In the time to spare, Fernández went the pro-rebuild route at first…

Danny Wolf and Drake Powell running the break. pic.twitter.com/xdDe5K3TKm

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 29, 2025

But even after putting back the starters back in, Fernández found a way to get the best of both worlds, as the final minutes were Dëmin’s best of the game. He scored 15 points in the fourth, sneaking his way into a career-high 23 points for the night after shooting 8-of-18 from the field and 5-of-14 from deep. He also mixed in five assists and nine rebounds.

It wasn’t enough to challenge for a win, but enough salvage an otherwise rough night for a team prioritizing the future above all else. While they didn’t get a bargain, they didn’t walk away empty-handed.

Final: Philadelphia 76ers 115, Brooklyn Nets 103

Injury Report​

Michael Porter Jr. missed his first game of the season tonight with low back tightness. While both the Nets and MPJ have a rough history with injuries of that sort, Fernández downplayed it pregame.

“Obviously we’re never gonna rush him,“ he said. ”His health, body, is the number one priority. We’re not concerned. You know, tightness, we’ll see how he feels, and then we’ll give an update after the game.“

Milestone Watch​

• At the end of the third quarter against Philadelphia, Nic Claxton blocked a shot in the third quarter giving him 14 straight games with a block, the longest streak in the NBA this season and tied as the second longest in his career (17 in 2022-23, 14 in 2023-24).
• Terance Mann finished with six assists, his seventh game this season with at least five assists (18 games played), tied as the second most in a season in his career (10 in 81 games with LAC in 2021-22). His season high is seven assists on 11/18 vs BOS.
• Egor Dëmin reached season highs in points (23) and rebounds (nine) to go along with five assists. He is the first Nets rookie with such minimums in a game since Terrence Williams on April 12, 2010 (21 points, 13 rebounds, six assists).
• Dëmin also made five 3-pointers made, tied as the third most by a rookie in franchise history. The record is six, shared by Bojan Bogdanovic April 12, 2015 and Kerry Kittles February 17, 1997.
• Demin’s 23 second half points tied Nets rookie record set by Marcus Williams in 2006-07.
• On a negative note, the Nets are now 0-9 at home for the first time in franchise history. Despite that, the Nets continue to draw big crowds to Barclays Center. On Friday night, the Nets-76ers drew 18,011 fans, meaning nearly 500 had bought standing room only tickets.

Next Up​

The Nets will play the Milwaukee Bucks for the first time this season tomorrow evening at Fiserv Forum. At the time of writing, the Bucks are 8-11, having lost six straight. Uncoincidentally, Giannis Antetokounmpo missed of those with an abductor strain. The Greek Freak did play in MSG Friday night though, so unless the Bucks want to hold him out of back-to-backs right out of the gates, expect him to be there. The game tips off at 8:00 p.m. EST.

• Boxscore: Philadelphia 76ers 115, Brooklyn Nets 103 – NBA
• Game Highlights: Philadelphia 76ers 115, Brooklyn Nets 103 (Video) – NBA
• Jordi Fernàndez discusses Nets’ loss to Sixers (Video) – YES Network
• Egor Dёmin on his impressive performance vs. 76ers (Video) – YES Network
• Frank Isola recaps the Nets’ loss to the 76ers (Video) – Frank Isola & Chris Shearn – YES Network
• Tyrese Maxey scores 22 points, 76ers beat Nets 115-103 – Adry Torres – AP
• Tyrese Maxey fills voids, carries 76ers past Nets – Reuters
• Nets struggle without Michael Porter Jr. during ugly NBA Cup loss to 76ers – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets’ Egor Demin reacts to 23-point NBA Cup performance against 76ers – Sharif Phillips-Keaton

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-scores-results/102298/nets-76ers-115-103-egor-demin-tyrese-martin

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Nets vs. Bucks preview: Milwaukee seeks to avoid historic loss

Still nothing at home. The Brooklyn Nets are still the only team to not win a home game yet this season after they lost to the Philadelphia 76ers last night.

The opponent tonight is battling through some things, but they remain a threat to capture the Eastern Conference. The Milwaukee Bucks are under .500 at 8-12, but that can be explained due to injuries. They’re closer to full strength, but lost to the New York Knicks at MSG last night, their seventh straight. One more and they tie a franchise record. Will Giannis Antetokounmpo play?

Where to follow the game​

YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Tip after 8:00 p.m. ET.

Injuries​

No Cam Thomas or Haywood Highsmith. As far as when Cam will be back, check back in week four. Night two of a back-to-back, so we’ll see if anyone else is out. Nolan Traore remains with Long Island who play tonight as well vs. the Raptors 905.

No Kevin Porter Jr or Taurean Prince. And similar to the Nets, this is night two of a back-to-back so we’ll keep an eye out to see if there are any late additions to the injury report. Giannis said after the Bucks loss to the Knicks that he “knows what the protocol is,” coming off a groin injury, but he added, “I know one thing for sure: Tomorrow, I will play more minutes, and I’m going to try to help the team win.”

The game​

As long as the Bucks have one of the five best players in the NBA, they’ll always have a chance. Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to play at a Hall of Fame level and is the key to their season. As he’s just getting back to action, he won’t have a heavy workload on his shoulders. Even at less than strength, he’s still good for 30/15/8 a game while being hell on wheels going to the basket. Assuming he plays tonight, I’m almost certain his minutes will be around the upper 20s. Night two of a traveling back-to-back and a game with lower stakes than the Cup should equal to a lighter workload tonight. However, if the game is within reach and Giannis feels fine, I’d let him rock out a bit longer.

Indeed, the Bucks are in a shocking, near historic slump, their loss to the Knicks their seventh straight defeat. Giannis is not been pleased with the team’s “competitive spirit.”

“Nobody should have a personal agenda. Nobody should worry about what they want from themselves,” said Antetokounmpo, who sat the previous four games with a groin strain. “Worry only about winning mentality. Winning mindset. The more we can win the games, the more everything takes care of itself.”

If the Nets beat the Bucks? It would tie the franchise’s longest losing streak … ever. Would that spur another round of trade rumors? “I want to win,” he said post-game. “I don’t remember the last time I lost seven in a row.”

All that said, if the league isn’t gonna call flagrant fouls when the big guy gets hacked and yanked, Giannis’ teammates are ready to pick up and handle things

Bobby Portis got heated with Mikal Bridges after he fouled Giannis hard.

BP pic.twitter.com/kK9MENe4E2

— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) November 29, 2025

Good teamwork there.

Where will the scoring come from with Thomas and likely Porter out? Off the bench, that will come from Tyrese Martin. He scored 16 points off the bench last night, and he’s really found his game after a slow start. He recently spoke about that, saying:

“I know I didn’t start the first 10 games how I wanted to and to help this team, and mentally I was messed up, but then I kind of got out of that like five games ago and let myself play free mentally and not think about how I’ve been playing, just how I’m going to play going forward and it’s been working for me.”

If he can keep this pace up, he’ll carve out a nice role for himself in this league.

Gotta admit, seeing Myles Turner outside of Pacers colors is a bit of a mind trip. I’m gonna have to accept that as he’ll be on the Bucks for the foreseeable future. Turner hasn’t had the best start to the season, but he’s always a threat to make defenses pay from deep. Nic Claxton will have the dual tasks of chasing Turner off of the three point line while also providing enough rim protection to make things hard in the paint. The Bucks are eighth in the NBA in field goal percentage inside the restricted area while the Nets are sixth worst in opponent’s field goal percentage in the restricted area. Seems like a bad mix, especially on a back-to-back.

Player to watch: Ryan Rollins​

It’s always fun to watch a young player start putting things together. Rollins has been terrific in his role and has been able to take on more responsibility. He’s got career highs across the board and is someone Doc Rivers trusts late. At just 23 years old, he’s a key part of their future and someone that can hopefully continue to get better.

He’s also someone that’s looking to be a positive in the community, and spent the holidays giving back

Ryan Rollins attended a Friendsgiving at the Vel R. Phillips Juvenile Justice Center and shared photos and a message on his instagram today.

“We all deserve second chances and I hope the young people felt that importance and sincerity from us.” pic.twitter.com/2bMKa2aDNC

— Ti Windisch (@TiWindisch) November 28, 2025

Salute to that young brother.

Egor Dëmin scored a career high 23 points last night, but he couldn’t fully enjoy it as the game wasn’t all that competitive. Either way, he’ll try to put a good b2b outing together tonight. Without Porter Jr and Thomas, scoring becomes even harder for this Brooklyn group. Will he have to take 18 shots again tonight? Probably, but that’s what the situation calls for right now. The experience for him is what’s going to help down the line if/when the Nets return to competitive play. Treat every day like a lesson and when the real basketball returns, you can apply everything you’ve learned.

From the Vault​

It’s Survivor Series Saturday!

Also, Monday is World AIDS Day. Ones in the air for everyone we’ve lost

More reading: Brew Hoop, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Milwaukee Bucks Game Notes – Milwaukee Bucks
• Bucks take on the Nets on 7-game skid – AP
• Giannis urges Bucks to fix ‘mindset’ after 7th straight loss – Tim Bontemps – ESPN

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-game...review-milwaukee-seeks-to-avoid-historic-loss

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Danny Wolf shines through the chaos in Nets’ ugly 116-99 loss to Bucks

Even in the middle of a mess, something positive can find a way to shine through.

The Brooklyn Nets entered the night looking to capitalize on the struggles of a Milwaukee Bucks team that had dropped seven straight games, but instead found themselves on the wrong end of yet another lopsided loss, falling to Milwaukee 116-99.

They were outmatched from deep, outmuscled in the paint, and undone by their own mental mistakes, finishing with their third-highest turnover total of the season.

The offense was just as stagnant, aside from a few surprise sparks off the bench. Not a single starter reached double figures.

When asked about his team’s defensive struggles, Jordi Fernández pointed to turnovers as a major factor in giving up easy transition points

“We look at the fast-break points and a lot of it is from our turnovers. We knew that they were a very good three-point shooting team,” Fernandez said. “We probably lost the possession game by a lot. It’s impossible to win in the NBA when you give up 16 three’s, 19 second-chance points, 24 off turnovers and 18 fast-break points.”

But despite all the chaos, rookie Danny Wolf gave Brooklyn one of its brightest moments of the season.

Wolf’s Breakout Moment​

The Michigan product knocked down two three-pointers in the first quarter to score the first two field goals of his career and didn’t look back, finishing with a career-high 22 points to go along with four assists and four rebounds. He shot 8-of-16 overall and 5-of-9 from deep.

Wolf made his first four triples of the night and entered the halftime with 17 points as Brooklyn’s leading scorer.

His start from beyond the arc was impressive, but he was also willing to venture into the paint, working through contact and throwing down a dunk over Kyle Kuzma despite the foul.

It’s pretty clear the G League helped his development. The confidence is there, and so is the willingness to trust his unique skill set, even this early in his NBA career. Through seven games on Long Island, Wolf had averaged 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds while shooting 48.1% from the field.

“It comes down to being ready for when your name is called and taking advantage of the opportunity. Coach Jordi and the staff have been preaching to shoot when you’re open, just letting it fly,” Wolf said after the game. “It’s just trusting my work and trusting the confidence that the coaching staff has in me.”

It was the most points scored in a half by a Nets rookie off the bench since Cam Thomas in 2022. Wolf went 4-for-5 from three, tied for the second-most made triples by a Nets rookie off the bench in franchise history. It was that kind of a night.

“He looked comfortable. His shot looked really good. I’m really proud of him for being ready and performing at at this level,” Fernandez said. “He was one of the reasons why that group came and punched back. It’s good to see because it can never be given to you. He’s been working and he’s been ready. He really took advantage of his minutes and I’m very happy for him.”

He also flashed the playmaking and mobility that made him such an intriguing prospect as a seven-footer, blowing past Giannis Antetokounmpo on the perimeter before finishing over Myles Turner at the rim.

Danny Wolf shakes Giannis and finishes at the rim over Myles Turner.

Yeah, I'm gonna say he's ready for consistent minutes in this Nets rotation. pic.twitter.com/lcvcZcWofe

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 30, 2025

Young Players Stepping Up​

Wolf wasn’t the only rookie to turn heads. Ben Saraf logged a career-high 29 minutes and made the most of them. In just his eighth NBA game, the 19-year-old set new highs in both scoring and passing, finishing with 10 points and seven assists.

“He does a great job at touching the paint and finding his teammates,” said Fernandez, a big proponent of Saraf before the draft. “Seven assists to three turnovers is a pretty good ratio. I still think he can get even better, but that’s what he does. I’m proud of him.”

Noah Clowney also continued to prove that he has expanded his outside shooting ability, knocking down both of his 3-point attempts in the first half. One came curling around a screen set by Tyrese Martin. The Nets are designing plays for him to get open looks, which says a lot about their trust in his shooting development.

After attempting just 1.4 threes per game as a rookie, Clowney quadrupled that number to 5.7 attempts per game last season. Now, he’s ramped it up again to 6.6 attempts per game while maintaining efficiency, shooting 32.2% after shooting 33.3% a year ago.

While Clowney is now in his third NBA season, it’s worth remembering that he’s just 21 years old, and 70 days younger than Wolf.

Reality Of the Night​

Despite the individual flashes, Brooklyn was overwhelmed by Milwaukee’s outside shooting and Antetokounmpo’s dominance in the paint.

The Bucks knocked down 16 three-pointers, tying for the fourth-highest total the Nets have allowed this season.

Meanwhile, Antetokounmpo did whatever he wanted inside, finishing with 29 points on 80 percent shooting. Nic Claxton can at least give him resistance, but he spent most of the night guarding Turner, leaving Brooklyn without another real answer at the rim.

Ziaire Williams struggled to find any rhythm, confidently letting shots go but seeing very few connect. He finished 1-for-5 from three and scored just five points.

Brooklyn’s bench accounted for nine made threes, but against a Bucks team that controlled nearly every other phase of the game, even that burst of shooting was never enough to change the result.

Injury Report​

Michael Porter Jr. missed his second straight game of the season with low back tightness, and is currently listed as day-to-day.

Jordi Fernandez said Michael Porter Jr. is day-to-day. He did not travel with team to Milwaukee and is receiving proper treatment.

Jordi said the injury is not concerning and when the team feels like he is “guaranteed to play and there’s no risk, he’ll be on the court.”

— Meghan Triplett (@Meghan_Triplett) November 29, 2025

After scoring a career-high 23 points on Friday, rookie Egor Demin was inactive against Milwaukee as he manages a plantar fascia injury that limited him throughout the summer.

Milestone Watch​

• Nic Claxton’s streak of 14 straight games with a block—the longest in the NBA this season and tied for the second-longest of his career—came to an end vs. Philadelphia. He’s now just one block shy of tying Derrick Coleman for fifth-most blocks in Nets history (559).
• Danny Wolf scored the first two field goals of his NBA career and finished with a career-high 22 points, adding four assists and four rebounds.
• Ben Saraf set career highs in scoring and assists with 10 points and seven dimes in 29 minutes, just his eighth NBA game.

Overall, the last three games, all losses, have given fans some exciting looks at what the future may hold. Two games back vs. the Knicks, Clowney, 21, scored 31 points and hit seven 3-pointers while 20-year-old Drake Powell had 15 points. Then on Friday, Egor Demin, all of 19, registered 23 points, all in the second half, to go along with nine rebounds. Tonight, it was 21-year-old Danny Wolf and 19-year-old Ben Saraf. Suddenly, the Flatbush 5 looks pretty, pretty good.

Up Next​

The Nets will face the Charlotte Hornets for the second time this season Monday evening at Barclays Center. During their first matchup of the season, the Hornets beat Brooklyn 136-117.

Charlotte sits at 6-14, but are on a two-game win streak. LaMelo Ball has been playing through a minor ankle tweak that limited him to 22 minutes during their recent win against the Raptors.

The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET.

• Boxscore: Milwaukee Bucks 116, Brooklyn Nets 99 – NBA
• Game Highlights: Milwaukee Bucks 116, Brooklyn Nets 99 (Video) – NBA
• Jordi Fernández discuses the Nets’ loss (Video) – YES Network
• Danny Wolf on his career night against Milwaukee (Video) – YES Network
• Antetokounmpo scores 29, surpasses 21,000 career points in Bucks’ 116-99 win over Nets – Jim Hoehn – AP
• Behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks top Nets, end losing streak – Reuters
• Nets thrashed by Bucks as they get a sobering Giannis Antetokounmpo reminder – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• In Bucks loss, Nets found proof their kids can play ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets’ Jordi Fernandez provides Michael Porter Jr. injury update amid surprise absences – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
• Nets player grades: Danny Wolf drops 22 in 116-99 loss at Bucks – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-scor...-through-the-chaos-in-nets-ugly-loss-to-bucks

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Nolan Traore’s 16 points not enough as Long Island falls to undefeated Raptors 905

The Long Island Nets returned to their home court on Saturday night as they faced off with the undefeated Toronto Raptors 905. This time, though, the Long Island team would be without Danny Wolf as he was recalled to the big club in Brooklyn and Ben Saraf who’s coming off an ankle injury. This left Nolan Traore as the only member of the Flatbush 5 on Brooklyn’s NBA G League team. And as there often is with development, there were positives and negatives in his performance.

Final Score: Raptors 905, 130 Long Island Nets 102.

Traore shot the ball quite well, connecting on five of his 10 field goals, including hitting one of his two attempts from beyond the arc, finishing with a total of 16 points. Traore was perfect from the foul line as well, hitting all four of his attempts, which was a big plus. Traore has now scored in double figures in each of his first eight NBA G League games. NetsDaily spoke to Traore following the game, and he spoke on working on his shot and continuing to develop at the NBA G League level.

Nolan Traore on tonight’s loss, Jordi’s recent comments, his first month coming to an end in the G League, and how he’s feeling.@NetsDaily #StrongIsland #NetsWorld pic.twitter.com/TLXO3FKhJO

— Scott Mitchell (@Scott44Mitchell) November 30, 2025

“We have a game in two days, so we’re just going to keep going and try to get the next one,” Traore told ND about his mindset coming out of this loss. “I think it’s good to play. I’m happy to play, and I work a lot also in practice, so I think my game has evolved, the shooting too got better, and I hope it’s going to continue.”

Recently, following Traore’s explosive 28-point performance, the big club’s head coach took notice and gave Traore some well-deserved praise. “I’m happy for sure,” Traore tells ND about Brooklyn’s head coach, Jordi Fernandez, noticing his 28-point, nine-assist performance. “It’s good that he watched that, and he knows that I’m here to play and show what I can do, so I’m happy.”

When asked how he was feeling about a recent injury scare Traore had in a game, Traore responded with: “I’m good, that’s the G League.”

All that said, with the good, comes the bad, and while Traore is shooting the ball well, he’s been up and down in another aspect of his game: ball protection.

After starting off with four, five, and six-turnover games, Traore seemed to be headed in the right direction. Unfortunately, things took a big step back on Saturday as he tied his season-high in turnovers, with six. This is where development comes in, so don’t fret, Nets fans, Traore’s recent miscues are as advertised. Fingers crossed, he can fix this issue sooner rather than later.

With Wolf now in Brooklyn, the team knew it would be time for other players to step up. Wolf’s call-up from Long Island left a big void in the Long Island. However, 6’8” 26-year-old big Tre Scott has come in ready to help mitigate the loss. On Saturday, Scott did just that Saturday as he picked up a career-high in points with 27. Scott connected on 10 of his 17 shots, including hitting four of his eight from beyond the arc.

Scott’s four three-pointers matched a career-high in the NBA G League. He also knocked down at least three shots from deep for the fourth straight game, marking the longest streak of his career. He also finished with five rebounds, two steals, and one block to add to his impressive stat sheet.

Malachi Smith, the 6’4” 25-year-old shooting guard, is coming off a stellar performance, scoring 24 points off the bench. Smith spoke to ND about his impressive team-leading 24-point performance:

Malachi Smith on his recent high offensive performances, his game, and his first month with Long Island.@NetsDaily #StrongIsland #NetsWorld pic.twitter.com/rYzyuR7YZ1

— Scott Mitchell (@Scott44Mitchell) November 30, 2025

“I know the skillset I have,” Smith said on his recent 24-point showing. “I think it was just taking advantage of an opportunity. It’s early in the season, I’ve only played like five games. This isn’t anything new or something I’ve never done before, so just staying confident and obviously being more aggressive. But it feels good being able to make shows. But I really focus on being able to impact the game more, impacting winning. So, if I don’t score a lot but do things to impact winning, I care about that more.”

Coming into this game, Smith said they had one thing on their mind: “stacking wins.” “We just came off a win,” Smith told ND. “We’re kind of trying to stack some wins. We’re not trying to win one, lose one. We want to be more consistent. We knew we had a good team coming in. We were in it for most of it, but we kind of let it slip away in the fourth. We have to bounce back Monday and play a full 48 to beat this team.”

Smith finished with 17 points. Smith shot the ball very well, connecting on eight of his 13 shots. However, he was only able to drain one of his four attempts from beyond the arc.

Overall, Smith said he’s pleased with his first month with the Long Island team. “I feel like it’s going good, but obviously it could be better,” Smith says about his first month with Long Island. “Obviously, I care about the wins. It’s a long season, but we just want to try and stack wins and continue to build on that. Being here so far, the coaching staff has really been with me in my player development. I feel like I’m staying more efficient, my shot being right, but also making the right play every time. Drawing two defenders, making the right pass, so I think overall those things.”

Long Island got off to a strong start against the undefeated Raptors with a 10-2 run from 3:38 to 2:09 in the first quarter. After a tightly contested opening frame in which both teams scored at least 12 bench points, the game was tied at 32-32. After the 905 went on a 15-2 run from 10:39 to 6:56 in the second, the Nets responded with an 11-0 spurt of their own from 6:19 to 4:00 in the second and trailed by two, 62-60, at the break.

The 905 started the second half on a 15-2 run, but Long Island fought back behind 12 third-quarter points from Scott, the highest-scoring quarter of his NBA G League career, to make it a 12-point game going into the final quarter, 93-81. The Nets went on a 9-0 run from 9:28 to 8:11 in the fourth, but the 905 held on for the 130-102 win.

Long Island is now 3-5, the Raptors 7-0.

Next Up​

The Long Island Nets (3-5) return to the court on Monday at 7:00 p.m. EST for a rematch with AJ Lawson and the undefeated Toronto Raptors 905. The game can be viewed on the NBA G League and Long Island Nets respective websites, as well as the Gotham Sports app.

• Boxscore: Raptors 905, 130 Long Island Nets 102 – G League

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/longislan...s-long-island-falls-to-undefeated-raptors-905

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

LIVE DISCUSSION: Brooklyn Nets at Milwaukee Bucks, 8:00 PM ET

Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The Nets haven’t been good this year, but at least their losses aren’t top headlines. For now. The Bucks enter Saturday having lost seven straight games, tying their worst losing streak in franchise history. A loss to the lowly Nets would make it their longest.

KEY INFO​

WHO: Brooklyn Nets (3-15) at Milwaukee (8-12)

WHEN: 8:00 PM ET

WATCH: YES Network/Gotham Sports App

The Game​

“As long as the Bucks have one of the five best players in the NBA, they’ll always have a chance. Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to play at a Hall of Fame level and is the key to their season. As he’s just getting back to action, he won’t have a heavy workload on his shoulders. Even at less than strength, he’s still good for 30/15/8 a game while being hell on wheels going to the basket. Assuming he plays tonight, I’m almost certain his minutes will be around the upper 20s.”

– Brian Fleurantin

***

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/nets-disc...on-brooklyn-nets-at-milwaukee-bucks-800-pm-et

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Deadlines and Commitments – Trade season approaches

The Nets are nearing the quarter pole in the season. Twenty games in, teams understand what they need to do to reach their goals, whether it’s contending for a title, finding final pieces or accelerating a rebuild. And two weeks from Monday, can start trading players signed in the summer. So, it’s trade time!

It’s also crunchtime for the WNBA’s contract talks.

—December 1: For first time in the 2025-26 season, the NBA’s waiver wire matches this season’s standings, not last season’s. So Nets now get to claim a player at No. 3 rather than No. 6.

—December 10: Jontay Porter sentencing at U.S. Federal Courthouse in Brooklyn on sports gambling charges. Expect Michael Porter Jr. to attend. Also, expect other news from the burgeoning basketball betting and poker scandals to be revealed. The courthouse is about a mile away from Barclays Center.

—December 15: Unofficial beginning of trade season. Players signed early in the off-season are eligible to be traded for first time. Last season, Nets traded Dennis Schroder to Golden State at their first opportunity then traded Dorian Finney-Smith two weeks later, both for second round picks.

—December 16: Emirates Cup Championship, Las Vegas.

—December 19-22: NBA G League Winter Showcase in Orlando, FL. All 31 G-League teams gather for a tournament. It’s heavily scouted by NBA and international teams.

—December 21: World Basketball Day.

—December 27: NBA G League 36-game regular season begins.

—January 1: Kevin Durant returns to Barclays Center with the Houston Rockets.

—January 5: 10-day contracts may now be signed if there’s a roster opening.

—January 8: Long Island Nets play first game as Les Nets vs. Wisconsin Herd in Laval, Quebec.

—January 9: Les Nets vs. Wisconsin Herd.

—January 10: All NBA contracts are guaranteed for the remainder of the season. For Nets, this applies to Tyrese Martin and Jalen Wilson.

—January 15: Seventeen players who re-signed with their previous teams under specific offseason conditions became trade-eligible. These players, including Nic Claxton, had their contracts restricted until this date to prevent teams from immediately trading them after re-signing them for a raise of 20% or more.

—January 16: Nets second national TV game, vs. the Chicago Bulls on ESPN.

—January 20-24: NBA Rivals Week.

—January 29: Michael Porter Jr. returns to Denver, the only team he played with before being traded to the Nets.

—January 30: Egor Demin returns to Utah where he played college ball at BYU.

—February 5: NBA Trade Deadline (3:00 pm ET) Nets currently have around $15.5 million in cap space, most in the NBA.

—February 8: Les Nets are back in Quebec vs. Noblesville Boom, the Pacers affiliate.

—February 10: Les Nets play Noblesville Boom in Quebec.

—February 13-15: 2026 NBA All-Star Break in Los Angeles, CA

—March 1: Playoff eligibility waiver deadline.

—March 1: Jalen Wilson becomes eligible for a multi-year deal.

—March 4: Last day to sign two-way contracts. Nets currently have the only open two-way contract.

—March 28: G League Regular Season ends

—March 31: NBA G League Playoffs begin

—April 12: NBA regular season ends (All 30 teams play)

—April 13: Rosters set for NBA Playoffs 2026 (3:00 p.m. ET)

—April 13: WNBA Draft. Liberty have only one pick at No. 41 in the third round, having previously traded away their first and second round picks. Draft is also big for trades.

—April 14-17: SoFi NBA Play-In Tournament

—April 18: NBA Playoffs begin

—Mid-May: NBA Draft Lottery. Big day but official date hasn’t been set.

—Mid-May: New York Liberty open WNBA season

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-feat...lines-and-commitments-trade-season-approaches

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Nets dunk all over Charlotte Hornets, win 116-103

The NBA knew what it was doing when it penciled in the Charlotte Hornets vs the Brooklyn Nets on a Monday night. You’d never want to ruin a Friday, Saturday, or even a Thursday evening with the vibes of what some fans might call a “tank-off.” But when it’s on a Monday, one after a long weekend, you’re at least bundling the bad with the bad.

The Hornets might not be revving their tank’s engine as loud as Brooklyn has this year. They’ve drafted with high picks for years and likely want to see some progress this season rather than improved pick positioning. Still, they brought a 6-14 record in the Barclays Center this evening, and that stunted the game’s competitive spirit leading up to tipoff.

Indeed, it looked like a battle between two basement dwellers seconds into the game. And no, that’s not an exaggeration. Kon Knueppel buried a three almost immediately after the tip when nobody thought to follow the 41% 3-point shooter over to the corner…

Nowhere to go but up for the Nets after their first defensive possession of the game pic.twitter.com/Jvs0iNOWne

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) December 2, 2025

With nowhere to go but up after that, Brooklyn did so, but then nosedived over, and over again in a true rollercoaster first period. A few sequences after that opening debacle, Egor Dëmin had about as resilient a 30 second stretch as you’ll see. LaMelo Ball rejected one of his jumpers, but he darted toward the rim to find his own rebound and finish it. Then at the other end, he poked away a pass in the halfcourt before going coast to coast for a modest slam…

Egor Demin follows his blocked jumper for a layup then jumps the passing lane for a steal and transition bucket. pic.twitter.com/7IFIMItrMt

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) December 2, 2025

Much of Brooklyn’s early offense ran through Dëmin with Terance Mann out tonight, but Ben Saraf and Drake Powell got reps off the bench too. Danny Wolf then followed them into the game at the 4:46 mark of the first, giving us our first opening quarter all season with four rookies logging minutes. Nolan Traore remains with Long Island…

High level transition pass from Drake Powell here to Ziaire for three pic.twitter.com/EmFrrEwa7n

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) December 2, 2025

Michael Porter Jr. switched spots tonight with Mann as one of the lone grown-ups at the kids table, coming off the injury report to play for the first time since the Knick game. MPJ was aggressive looking for his shot early, but lacked his usual touch, beginning the game 2-of-7 from the field. So, Nic Claxton, the other adult in the room, handled most of the scoring load, leading everyone after one with eight points. Those efforts, paired with Brooklyn’s +8 advantage in points off turnovers, were enough to keep Brooklyn within one after the first, despite Charlotte shooting better from the field and three.

Then in the second, Porter Jr. shook off the rust, and just about every defender thrown his way. He added 11 points in the period while going 3-of-3 on triples, only beginning what would become a career night for him from deep. However, Brooklyn’s defense contrarily stiffened up in the frame’s top half, as their closeouts proved too slow for the Hornets buzzing around the 3-point line after drive and kick sequences.

Charlotte led by as many as 11 in the second, but right when it looked like they might fly away with the game, the young guns provided enough backup to help Brooklyn pull even. Powell and Clowney combined for 15 points in the second after going 3-5 from deep. Powell’s best moment of the half might’ve come at the other end, leading to zero points as well, but allow this troubled New York Giants fan a moment here…

Powell channels his inner OBJ with this snag — but him getting an accurate pass out to Dëmin mid-fall so he can immediately start the break might be even more impressive here.

Unfortunately they can't finish the play but still encouraging. pic.twitter.com/qp2zWojNO3

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) December 2, 2025

Despite that missed opportunity, the Nets maintained a 17-8 halftime advantage in points off turnovers and entered the break tied 59-59. They also grabbed 14 second chance points despite being down overall on the glass. Porter Jr. led all scorers with 17 points after totaling five made threes at that point.

“He started a little slow, you know, especially on defensive end, but you guys know, Mike is a threat offensively the whole time, and it’s not just his three point shooting, but also his cutting, and he’s doing a good job finishing his cuts and not over dribbling,” Fernández said of MPJ. “And like I said, our spacing was better, and credit to him. I like when he starts talking to his teammates and tells them what to run. He’s been in this situation before, I think that we benefit from it.”

Big fans of that steal-and-score formula, the Nets kept it going in the second half, snatching 10 points off turnovers. Powell poked away his fourth steal for the game in the process. Those are the most by a Nets rookie since David Duke Jr. in February 2022. The last Brooklyn rookie with five steals in a game was Chris McCullough on six years earlier…

Drake Powell makin' an IMPACT on both ends

the rooks got 4 steals! pic.twitter.com/yN4zaBrT72

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 2, 2025

“I thought our ball pressure was much better, and I thought that Zaire and Drake were outstanding with our ball pressure,” Fernández said. “In that second half, I think that the point of the attack, the ball, was handled way better, and I think those two guys did a great job. And then everybody else behind, you know, it was not just one guy that guarded the ball. It was fighting down a string. The communication was there. The multiple efforts were there, so at the end of the day, those are the minutes and possessions that we want to see.”

However, Charlotte copied and pasted another page of Brooklyn’s first half blueprint, beating the Nets in second chance points 12-2 in the third to keep things relatively even. Dëmin picked up his fourth personal foul for the game with 5:38 to go in the third after whacking Ryan Kalkbrenner on a second-chance lay-in, but Nets were able to hang onto a six-point lead at the start of the fourth.

It was there that the Nets started with Powell, Saraf, Wolf, Williams, and Day’Ron Sharpe, giving every concerned tank commander what they were asking for. But even with LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges opposing them on the floor, the payoff never hit. Brooklyn’s lead never budged and even inflated to eight at one point…

Super slick feed from Day'Ron Sharpe here. He's +6 off the bench so far tonight. pic.twitter.com/DbaNDnVOU4

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) December 2, 2025

Porter Jr., Claxton, and Dëmin checked in with seven to go. Clowney followed about 60 second later, yet Wolf remained on the floor with the usual starters. But by that point, it was time to let the main five drive the train, and they wasted little time hitting the gas. Porter Jr. splashed his sixth three of the night to make Brooklyn’s lead eight with about five to play. Clowney then pushed it to double digits and Kalkbrenner into the upside down 30 seconds later…

Noah Clowney just obliterated Ryan Kalkbrenner.

For anyone wondering, Clowney is two years younger than him. pic.twitter.com/9wG6Y4OL58

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) December 2, 2025

Danny Wolf added a quick encore a few seconds later, plus a foul, giving the Nets their largest lead of the ballgame…

Miles Bridges…also obliterated via Danny Wolf. pic.twitter.com/qpe9SUgRKd

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) December 2, 2025

“Felt great,” Wolf said of the dunk. “You know, against Milwaukee, there was another opportunity for that, and I laid the ball up and before the game, I said I was gonna try to catch a body or try to dunk on somebody, and I was kind of saying that as a joke, but kind of just looking at that as an opportunity, and just kind of trying to find the room, and I did it.”

Between the two dunks, Claxton said he liked Wolf’s a bit better, and also confirmed the Michigan product’s pregame comments.

“I’m gonna say Danny, just because it was his first one and the way he did it,” Claxton said. “He did, he manifested it before the game. He told me and Day’Ron, he was like, ‘I’m gonna catch me one too,’ and he went out and did it. So you gotta tip that off to him sure.”

Although surprised by it for candid reasons, Porter Jr. also enjoyed the play…

Michael Porter Jr. on his shocked reaction to Danny Wolf’s poster dunk:

“White boy.”

https://t.co/3zJt60mcY5 pic.twitter.com/HnGhEOPitm

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) December 2, 2025

Post-game, Porter also paid tribute to his head coach.

“I think Jordi is a genius of a coach,” said MPJ. “He’s a genius in terms of the schemes he puts out, especially offensively for me. The way teams are face-guarding me and trying not to let me catch the ball, the different creative ways that Jordi has our team running plays to help me gets touches and looks off is really next level. He’s making is so easy for me to play my game.”

With the Hornets looking as defeated as they had all night following that jam, their fans began leaking out of the lower bowl. When that happened, I spotted a Brooklyn one sitting baseline with “DRAFT PICKS” and the no. 15 stitched on the back of a custom Nets jersey. Initially, I expected he felt frustrated with what just unfolded in front of him. The Nets beat a team only a few games ahead them in the standings and consequentially jeopardized their favorable lottery odds.

However, the jersey didn’t specify what picks he was rooting for. The word “future” wasn’t on there, and Brooklyn’s first batch of selections since they pivoted directly toward a rebuild looked pretty damn good tonight.

On the evening that the Nets got their first home win of the season, let’s just pretend he was rooting for them, not a loss.

Final: Brooklyn Nets 116, Charlotte Hornets 103

Injury Update​

It’s been all quite on the Cam Thomas front for a few weeks now, but Jordi Fernández said pregame he’d have an MRI at the end of the week and Brooklyn would provide an update after. Thomas last played on November 5.

Milestone Watch​

• Michael Porter Jr. finished with a season-high 35 points tonight against Charlotte on 13-of-24 overall, 7-of-11 from 3-point land and 2-of-4 from the line with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Those are the fifth-most points of his career and his most field goals he’s ever attempted in a game.
• Brooklyn set a season high with 33 assists tonight against the Hornets. They also tied their second most 3-pointers (17, high is 19 on 10/24/25 vs CLE) and steals (10, season high is 12 on November 18 vs. Boston).
• Nic Claxton had 13 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, one steal and one block against Charlotte. That gives him the 81st double-double of his career, passing Keith Van Horn (80) for the ninth-most in Nets history. His one block moves him to a tie with Derrick Coleman (559 career blocks) for the fifth-most in franchise history.
• With his seventh 3-pointer of the night (tied as the second most in his career), Porter became the 28th player in league history to make at least 900 career 3PM with a career 3-point percentage over 40.0%. He is one of nine active with such minimums (Steph Curry, Seth Curry, Klay Thompson, Norman Powell, Doug McDermott, Joe Ingles, Luke Kennard, Grayson Allen).
• Porter. also surpassed 6,000 career points tonight, becoming one of five active NBA players with at least 6,000 points and a career 3-point percentage over 40.0%, joining Stephen Curry, Doug McDermott, Klay Thompson and Norman Powell.
• The crowd of 16,443 was, ironically, the smallest home crowd of the season for the first win.

Next Up​

The Chicago Bulls have gone 3-9 after starting the season 6-1 and will face the Brooklyn Nets next on Wednesday evening. The Nets haven’t beat the Bulls since 2023 in a game that featured Mikal Bridges, Spencer Dinwiddie, and Royce O’Neale. The contest tips off at 8:00 p.m. at the United Center.

• Boxscore: Brooklyn Nets 116, Charlotte Hornets 103 – NBA
• Game Highlights: Brooklyn Nets 116, Charlotte Hornets 103 (Video) – NBA
• Highlights: Michael Porter Jr. scores 35 points (Video) – NBA
• Jordi Fernández on the Nets’ 116-103 win over Charlotte (Video) – YES Network
• Danny Wolf discusses the Nets’ win over Hornets (Video) – YES Network
• Nic Claxton on the Nets’ win over the Hornets (Video) – YES Network
• Porter scores 35 points as the Nets beat the Hornets 116-103 – AP
• Nets put away Hornets for elusive first home victory – Reuters
• Nets win battle of NBA tankers with late run enough to top woeful Hornets – Bridget Reilly – New York Post
• Michael Porter Jr.’s 35 points power Nets past Hornets for first home victory ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets expect Cam Thomas MRI update later this week ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets player grades: Michael Porter Jr. drops 35 in win vs. Hornets – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-scor...-vs-hornets-116-103-michael-porter-danny-wolf

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

The Long Forecast: Flemings rises, Dybantsa shines as 2026 NBA draft board takes shape

Yes, the calendar has only just flipped to December. But in Nets World, it’s never too early to talk about the NBA draft!

After Brooklyn made history last June by becoming the first team ever to select five rookies in the first round, fans have already turned their attention back to Tankathon and the top prospects in the 2026 class. In addition to their own pick in the first round, Brooklyn has its own pick in the second round plus another pick. It remains uncertain where that pick could fall and whose pick the Nets have the right to use. Currently, those seconds would be the 34th and 51st picks in the Draft.

So, as the pre-draft scouting cycle ramps up, we’ll be diving into everything each week here in “The Long Forecast” on NetsDaily, including the biggest risers and fallers, a full breakdown of one blue-chip prospect, a sleeper section highlighting under-the-radar names who could fit Brooklyn’s timeline, links to the latest mock drafts and a weekly watch guide with the exact matchups, tipoff times, and players Nets fans should be locked in on for the upcoming slate of games.

Now let’s get into it, shall we?

Risers​

Kingston Flemings, Houston

To open his first season at the University of Houston, Flemings has put up numbers that are video game-esque.

Through eight games, the Texas native is averaging 15.3 points, 3.6 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.3 steals in 30.6 minutes per game. He’s shooting a blistering 60.8% from the field and an eye-popping 52.4% from three, the kind of efficiency you usually only see when someone forgets to raise the difficulty slider in NBA 2K.

He’s a smooth mover with a natural knack for getting to the rim, but what makes Flemings pop on film is how effortlessly he sets up everyone around him. At 6’4” and 190 pounds, he’s explosive and shifty enough to blow by defenders, yet he plays with a controlled pace that makes him look very poised in a collegiate-level offense.

While he was projected at No. 19 overall by the Miami Heat in Jeremy Woo’s latest mock draft for ESPN, if he continues to play at this rate, coupled with the fact that he is set to turn only 19 years old in January, he could certainly make his way into lottery consideration.

Dame Sarr, Duke

Sarr’s early numbers don’t tell the full story of his freshman impact at Duke.

Through eight games, his stat line isn’t striking: 7.5 points, 4.1 rebounds, and one assist in 20.9 minutes off the bench, shooting 44.4% from the field and 35.7% from three. But those numbers barely reflect the defensive impact and upside he has brought to Jon Scheyer’s rotation.

Sarr’s blend of shot creation and stingy defense, paired with the fact that he’s only 19, makes him one of the most intriguing high-upside three-and-D wings in this draft class.

Sarr’s offense is still a work in progress, but that part of his game can be developed at the NBA level. What makes him so appealing now is his defense, which is NBA-ready, and that tends to push prospects up draft boards. He profiles similarly to Illinois’ Carter Bryant, who went No. 14 to the San Antonio Spurs in June’s draft.

Fallers​

Tounde Yessoufou, Baylor

Yessoufou, a 6’5” wing, has struggled to find his footing early this season, especially when it comes to scoring with any real ease or efficiency.

Entering his first year at Baylor, he was billed as a big-bodied, downhill wing who could overwhelm defenders at the rim. The tools are still there, such as his burst and open-court speed, but translating that athleticism into consistent production remains his next step.

Over six games at Baylor, he has averaged 15.5 points on 40.7% shooting from the field, while knocking down 27.3% of his 3-pointers, alongside 6.0 rebounds, one assist, and two steals throughout 30 minutes.

It is easy to become enamored with Yessoufou’s upside, and there is certainly time to turn his slow start around, similar to what V.J. Edgecombe accomplished last season. Still, the early returns of his freshman campaign are not very promising.

Meelek Thomas, Arkansas

While Thomas, another 6’5” shooter, has flashed plenty of upside to open the season, he’ll need to tighten his shot selection and boost his overall efficiency to build a convincing lottery resume.

His decision-making and passing have trended in the right direction, but the early portion of his freshman campaign has been anything but spotless for the Pittsburgh native.

Through seven games, including just two starts, Thomas is averaging 17.6 points on 41.6% shooting and 34.5% from three, along with 4.6 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.6 steals.

Spotlight of the week​

AJ Dybantsa, BYU

Dybantsa has wasted no time establishing himself as one of the most impactful freshmen in the country. Through the opening stretch of his first season at BYU, the 6’9” wing is averaging 19.0 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.3 assists in 30.7 minutes, shooting an efficient 52.3% from the field and 37.5% from three.

AJ Dybantsa is baby Paul George

High level talent, 6’8, can shoot dribble and pass, scores from anywhere on the court

pic.twitter.com/ybDeqEYD0z

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) November 29, 2025

Those numbers alone put him in rare company for a first-year player, but the way he produces them is what jumps off the page.

Dybantsa scores from every level, which makes him so valuable. He has powerful downhill drives, smooth mid-range pull-ups, and accurate spot-up threes. The 18-year-old has already become a mismatch almost every trip down the floor at the NCAA level.

The bottom line: Dybansta has looked every part of a generational talent, and if he continues to play at this rate, he could go No. 1 overall in June.

AJ Dybantsa is better than Cooper Flagg.
Might’ve even been the reason Flagg reclassed to be in the 2025 draft.

6’8” two-way monster with elite athleticism, smoother handle, and a deeper offensive bag.
pic.twitter.com/L0xPyEgWsq

— NetsKingdom (@NetsKingdomAJ) June 21, 2025

Sleepers​

Richie Saunders, BYU

Standing 6’5” and 200 pounds, Saunders has steadily grown his game throughout his BYU career.

After earning the Big 12’s Most Improved Player award last season and securing first-team All–Big 12 honors, he’s taken another leap this year. Playing alongside star prospect AJ Dybantsa, Saunders is off to a terrific start.

Through seven games, the Utah native is averaging 20.1 points on 51.1% shooting from the field, while also knocking down 43.1% of his attempts from three-point range, along with 5.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and two steals in 32 minutes per game.

Been saying it all offseason…

Richie Saunders is the GUY.

29 points on 6/10 shooting from 3 is ridiculous!

: @brhoops pic.twitter.com/9MceT724Mw

— College Basketball Headquarters (@CBBheadquarters) November 29, 2025

He’s known for relentless work habits, leadership, and consistently representing BYU’s program the right way both on and off the floor, while also possessing an extremely high basketball IQ.

One of the main reasons he hasn’t appeared on many draft boards is his age; Saunders is already 24, a noticeable contrast to the 18 and 19-year-old headliners who typically dominate early draft conversations.

plenty will fade richie saunders for his age and lack of eye popping athleticism, but he's accrued sage-like instincts defending passing lanes. career-high 3.6% steal rate this year

he's a deflection machine, none better than him stabbing the ball straight up just after falling pic.twitter.com/2FyBjWiPel

— ben pfeifer (@bjpf_) November 29, 2025

Even so, if he continues at this pace, he could absolutely play his way into second-round consideration for Brooklyn. He fits the Nets’ pattern of targeting high-character prospects, and his production makes him hard to ignore.

Tucker DeVries, Indiana

DeVries is the kind of prospect who slips past the usual draft talk but always seems to win over scouts as it pertains to a second-round pick. The 6’7” Indiana wing is having his most complete season yet, averaging 17.9 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists while hitting 44.1% from three.

He’s not an explosive athlete, but he is a very wise decision-maker. DeVries can shoot off movement while also guarding multiple positions on defense.

Tucker DeVries has been taking some very deep and ridiculously tough movement threes for Indiana.

Has looked like one of the best players in college basketball from exhibitions through the early season.

Want to see more on ball P&R reps to leverage his gravity to make plays… pic.twitter.com/3QxxmR8pru

— NBA Draft Dude (@CoreyTulaba) November 10, 2025

For Brooklyn, he’s the definition of second-round value: a big wing who can really shoot, won’t force bad shots, and understands team basketball.

This week’s watch guide​

Here is a list of games fans should tune in to this week.

• Tennessee vs. Syracuse: December 2, 7 p.m. tip-off. Look out for Tennessee’s Nate Ament.
• UNC vs. Kentucky: December 2, 9:30 p.m. EST tip-off. Look out for UNC’s Caleb Wilson.
• BYU vs. CA Baptist: December 3, 9 p.m. EST tip-off. Look out for BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Richie Saunders
• Indiana vs. Louisville: December 6, 2:30 p.m. EST tip-off. Look out for Indiana’s Tucker DeVries.
• Auburn vs. Arizona: December 6, 10:30 p.m. EST tip-off. Look out for Arizona’s Koa Peat.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-draf...sa-shines-as-2026-nba-draft-board-takes-shape

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Takeaways from a pretty fun stretch of Brooklyn Nets basketball

Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images

The Brooklyn Nets are 4-16, good for only the fourth-worst record in the grotesquely crowded bottom of the league. But over this past weekend’s back-to-back against the Philadelphia 76ers and Milwaukee Bucks, Egor Dëmin, Danny Wolf, and Ben Saraf each had his best NBA game yet. And Monday night’s win over the Charlotte Hornets was the most fun home game this season, likely longer. That’s enough to outshine their terrible record, and while we’ll discuss the rookies intensively in this week’s Rookie Report, it’s part of a larger trend: Things ain’t so bad.

The first-round picks are playing more and more. That’s a more convincing reason to tune into a game than nearly anything the Nets gave us last season, not to mention 21-year-old Noah Clowney showing signs of a leap as opposed to missing chunks of the season with injury. And depending on your mileage, you might enjoy watching Tyrese Martin, Nic Claxton, and Michael Porter Jr. show previously unseen flashes in their mid-20s, all of whom are less obvious trade bait than Cam Johnson and Dennis Schröder were last year.

never thought i'd say these words but

Nic Claxton triple-double baby, favorite Nets game I've watched in a while: pic.twitter.com/h936l0M23l

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) November 23, 2025

They also haven’t been that bad lately. Following their 0-7 start, they are 4-9 with a -6.2 net rating, better than eight other teams over that span. That’s quite a mundane level of bad, a far cry from going winless with a 130 defensive rating.

Let’s address the elephant in the room: Cam Thomas got hurt at the start of their first win, and the Nets have been better without him. Correlation doesn’t imply causation, but with CT, Brooklyn is averaging 21.9 assists per 100 possessions, a mark that would easily rank last in the league. Without CT, Brooklyn averages ??? 26.8 assists per 100 possessions, which would tie for 11th in the league. More assists don’t necessarily mean better offense (though the front office has made clear their desire for more ball-movement), but Brooklyn’s offensive rating thus far is virtually the same with or without Thomas. It’s probably more fun to watch, too.

The Nets’ defensive rating is also a whopping 7.66 points better without Thomas on-court, far less hopeless on that end as they were in October. Some of that is addition by subtraction; he’s not a positive defender even when the effort is there, and this season, well…

Cam Thomas' effort on the defensive boards last night was… not good. pic.twitter.com/bdZe1GRW0y

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 4, 2025

But Michael Porter Jr. has since raised his energy level on defense. Egor Dëmin is getting deflections left and right, Nic Claxton has been up and down instead of just down, and Noah Clowney has 23 stocks (steals + blocks) in his last 11 games after having just four in his first nine appearances. CT is a corrosive defender, but is his absence responsible for their individual improvements? Do his ball-pounding tendencies just suck the life out of his teammates? I can’t go quite that far.

In any case, the Nets are now giving enough defensive effort to flash the future they want. They play some huge lineups. Often, it’s Terance Mann or Tyrese Martin plus four guys that are at least 6’9”. They closed Monday’s win out with the 6’8” Egor Dëmin as the smallest guy out there. With Jordi Fernandez upping the switching recently, you’ll see opposing ball-handlers cycle through screeners, searching in vain for a size advantage…

“This is the Nets, their physicality and their size is overwhelming the Celtics right now,” said Brian Scalabrine on the Boston broadcast during their November 21st showdown.

It’s not just more switching, to be clear. We’re seeing more activity, forcing opposing offenses to make four or five passes before Brooklyn’s defense completely breaks down. No, that’s not the highest bar — opponents are shooting a stable 70% at the rim against BKN, the fourth-worst mark in the league (Cleaning the Glass) — but they at least pop their head above water from time to time. Throw in more ball-movement on the other end, and you can see what they’re aiming for.

Saraf kick, Wolf nice connective pass

glimpse of the future BKN wants pic.twitter.com/UOIfd37Qk5

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) December 1, 2025

Suddenly, 4-16 doesn’t taste too bad. Not when Danny Wolf is baptizing (or perhaps Bar Mitzvah’ing) Miles Bridges with nearly every game close in the second half. Here are a few more (non-rookie) takeaways from Brooklyn’s recent stretch of play.

Go-to guy Michael Porter Jr.​

Before the season, many poked fun at the idea of Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. on the same bad team, set to be the Keystone Cops of shot-chucking. And yes, MPJ has taken some laughable shots and short-circuited on defense here and there, but as a high-usage offensive player, he functions much differently than CT.

• Thomas: averages 4.14 seconds per touch, second-highest on the Nets
• MPJ: 2.09 seconds per touch, third-lowest on the Nets

Preposterous it may seem, but MPJ as a primary option actually helps Brooklyn facilitate ball-movement: They average 27.6 assists per 100 possessions with him on the court, down to 22.8 without him. Porter Jr. doesn’t create for himself from a standstill, needing plenty of off-ball screens and dribble-handoffs to get to his 18 shots a night.

This can rear an ugly head, particularly in crunch-time. However, Fernández has done a wonderful job designing an offense around MPJ’s skillset, and the others are nailing down the spacing principles…

In turn, Porter Jr. has made the basic reads when required, whether that’s back-cutting at the right times, or throwing a lob to his screener, as we see above.

This is the best-case scenario for MPJ’s offense in his first year as a Net and his first year as a go-to option in the NBA. He’s averaging 24.9 points and 3.1 assists per game, both career-highs, on 60.7% true shooting, right in line with his 61.7% career average despite scaling way up in usage.

When asked how he’s been able to adjust so cleanly, Porter Jr. did not mince words: “Well, I think Jordi — he’s a genius of a coach. You know, we’re a young team, we’re going to keep growing, but he’s a genius in terms of the schemes that he puts out, especially offensively for me. The way teams are guarding me, really just face-guarding me and trying not to let me catch the ball, the different creative ways that Jordi has our team running plays to help me get touches and get looks off is really next level. He’s making it so easy for me to play my game. So I really have to thank just Jordi and the offensive coaching staff for how I’ve been able to produce.”

He ain’t lying.

Ziaire Williams gets benched​

Ziaire Williams did not play in a November 24 loss to the New York Knicks, after which Jordi Fernandez said, “I wanted to challenge him with his defense.”

Before Monday’s game, Fernández simply said: “He can do better.”

Finally, after Monday’s win, Fernández praised Williams’ defensive activity and energy as a key to securing the win. There’s something! Williams, who was brought to Brooklyn on the wrong end of a salary dump in the summer of 2024, was/is Sean Marks’ first attempt at a true reclamation project in this rebuild. In the summer of 2025, he inked a 2-year, $12.5 million contract with a team option on the second year. Why not? He played hard enough last year while shooting 34.1% from deep on over nine attempts per 100 possessions, both career-highs at just 23 years old.

Through one-quarter of the season, he hasn’t given Brooklyn much reason to pick up the team option next offseason. His $6.25 million for next season is no great burden, but he’s a fairly a known commodity at this point: a 3-and-D wing who doesn’t excel at either the 3 or the D.

Now in his fifth year in the NBA, Williams’ teams have been better with him off the floor in each season. This year has been particularly rough, with Brooklyn nearly 12 points per 100 possessions better with him sitting on the bench, per Cleaning the Glass. That will normalize to a less frightening number, but I’m not sure where he theoretically helps this team, even if he does match his career-high 34% from deep, as he did last year.

There’s no on-ball creation to speak of, little passing ability evidenced in his nearly one-to-one assist:turnover ratio as a Brooklyn Net, and the defense is far too inconsistent to label him as a positive on that end. This season, it’s just been bad…

In theory, Williams could be a nice building block for the iteration of this team that wants to win a little bit. Maybe even next season, when they owe a pick-swap to Houston. He’s a spark-plug, 6’9” wing off the bench who can do a little of everything and fit in most lineups, a cheerful guy who just wants to win and smile, in that order.

But in practice, I just don’t see it. Same with Jalen Wilson, to be honest.

---

Last week, time caught up to me and I didn’t get to write the Rookie Report. Then three of the rooks had their best NBA game, while another one had his best G League game. Hopefully this column isn’t a jinx, but we’re about to find out.

In the meantime, the Nets have an upcoming back-to-back, starting a visit to the Second City to face the Chicago Bulls. Tip-off is schedule for Wednesday night at 8:00 p.m. ET.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-anal...retty-fun-stretch-of-brooklyn-nets-basketball

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Too Fast to Fail: Why Nolan Traore’s growth signals bright future

Some lessons only show up after you hit a wall.

From the moment Brooklyn Nets rookie Nolan Traore saw his first professional action, it became clear that he was the rawest of the Nets’ five first-round picks.

He was also the youngest, just 19 when his name was called on draft night. He’s currently the sixth youngest player in the NBA and the fifth youngest in Nets franchise history.

Whether he was firing passes into the seats or barreling into the paint without a plan, the Frenchman showed he needed some polish before becoming a steady contributor.

But his relentless effort hints at real growth down the line.

When Traore messes up, he does it at full throttle. After turning the ball over, he doesn’t sulk, he sprints back and makes life difficult for the ball-handler on the other end.

Those traits don’t guarantee success, but they show that he has the kind of drive and resiliency that can help iron out whatever rough edges remain.

Finding His Rhythm​

He’s still nowhere near a finished product, but his recent progress in the G League shows he’s already started to address some of his weaknesses.

Because Brooklyn has six players on rookie contracts, management doesn’t need to rush any of them. They can afford to be patient with development and minutes.

After a slow start, he had his best G League performance in Long Island’s win over Greensboro, finishing with 28 points, nine assists and three turnovers on 11-of-20 shooting from the field and 6-of-9 from three.

Big time stat line from 2025 NBA first round pick Nolan Traore! The 19-year-old dropped 28-5-9 as the @longislandnets cruised past the the Swarm. pic.twitter.com/OxpgBY6pBw

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) November 23, 2025

Nets head coach Jordi Fernández took notice, emphasizing how strong performances can carry over and build confidence.

“Very good performance,’’ Fernandez said. “I texted him. I watched the game. We want to play a competitive and winning game of basketball. It starts with the habits. I know he saw the ball go in [offensively], which [is something] you can’t always control. But you can control taking the right shots, making the right play.”

Jordi Fernandez on Nolan Traore's 28-point performance in Long Island on Saturday:

"Very good performance. I'm very happy. I texted him. I watched the game. We want to play a competitive and winning brand of basketball. It starts with the habits. I know he saw the ball go in,… pic.twitter.com/FiGhzTo9UO

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 24, 2025

Turning Quickness Into Control​

Traore’s most obvious strength can also work to his own detriment at times.

Heading into the 2025 NBA Draft, he was considered one of the fastest, if not the fastest, prospects available.

In an episode of the Nets’ SCOUT YouTube series, Nets scout Akbar Waheed is shown raving about Traore’s speed.

“His ability to just get by guys, it stood out to me. Elite first step. He touched the paint whenever he wanted, and he had vision,” the scouts said. “His ability to attack the rim, with NBA space, that’s going to be better for him.

He’s already shown some of it, particularly in the open court.

Nolan Traore is speed pic.twitter.com/yq0VM7RILX

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) October 10, 2025

He’s fast, but sometimes he’s too fast.

He plays recklessly at times, forcing penetration and ultimately putting his teammates in tough spots with wild passes.

Part of that can be attributed to the adjustment process of adapting to the pace of American basketball.

He was much more efficient in Paris, and shortly after turning 18, his speed and feel for the game began to attract NBA attention.

Nolan Traore is a projected Top 5 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

Recently averaged 24.8 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 6.5 APG in 4 GP in the ANGT Tournament. Had a 45 PT + 9 AST game as well.

The 6’3 PG out of France is a skilled PnR operator who does a great job putting pressure on the rim… pic.twitter.com/E6chIazJKb

— Lucas Skinner (@redcooteay) July 23, 2024

He quickly moved up the French pro ladder, playing with Saint-Quentin in France’s top league, where he ultimately led the team in assists while averaging just 2.5 turnovers per game, a far cry from his current G League average of 4.3 turnovers.

His time at Saint-Quentin wasn’t all smooth, however.

In fact, he got off to an even worse start there than he did with the Nets. In his first game, he scored just two points on 1-of-9 shooting while committing multiple turnovers. It was messy.

By the end of the season, he had acclimated well enough to be named the FIBA Champions League Best Young Player.

According to his former head coach, Julien Mahé, Traore is a quick learner, which should be encouraging to Nets fans.

“We knew he would have had some tough moments adapting to the team, the level and physicality of the league. But he was superb in the learning process: game by game, he was getting to know fast what he could and could not do.”

Progress, Not Perfection​

The improvements aren’t jumping off the page just yet, but they’re coming along steadily.

Over the past four games, he has posted a 5.5-to-4.25 assist-to-turnover ratio, compared to a 4.25-to-4.75 ratio through the first four games of the season. On such small samples, progress is measured.

There’s no rush for him to make the jump to Brooklyn anytime soon.

After his 28-point performance against Greensboro, Traore told ND’s Scott Mitchell that it’s been encouraging to finally see the results of his hard work

“I’m happy, and I work a lot also in practice, so I think my game has evolved, the shooting too got better, and I hope it’s going to continue,” Traore said. “I work on it every day, and I’m happy to see it paying off, and I’ll just keep going,”

The Nets still view Traoré as a promising prospect, not a sunk cost. Both the team and the rookie can afford to be patient as he continues to develop.

In the meantime, he’ll keep cutting his teeth in the G League while learning how to tame his speed.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-feat...hy-nolan-traores-growth-signals-bright-future

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Nets run over, not with, the Bulls to win 113-103

The Brooklyn Nets are on a winning streak. I know we’re barely making quota for a statement like that, but who knows how often we’ll get to say it this year. Let’s all just soak it in.

They’ll eventually make up for it (and then some), but our boys took their time getting started offensively tonight. The Nets began game No. 21 shooting 1-of-6 from the field, either missing short, or sometimes just everything.

But then, Michael Porter Jr. started carrying that weight. You’d never know this guy has a bad back with how he’s been able to do that for the Nets offense so often this year. In the first, he put in 14 points while shooting 5-of-9 from the field.

However, all offense outside of him remained a struggle, for a while…

Not sure what Ziaire is going here. Gotta go to the corner with Claxton driving. pic.twitter.com/YfoYpNLVzJ

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) December 4, 2025

Nets not named Porter Jr. shot 5-of-14 from the field in the first. Ben Saraf did nail a rather deep triple though, which felt like it should count extra.

That was enough to give the Nets a five point lead after one. Chicago’s offense not being much better than Brooklyn’s helped out there. The Bulls picked on Egor Dëmin a few times during the game’s opening minutes, even forcing him into some early foul trouble, struggles to finish off plays, fumbles of fast break sequences and misses of open looks.

Dëmin’s two personals less than four minutes into the contest gave us an earlier introduction than usual to Saraf, but also Day’Ron Sharpe, Danny Wolf, Drake Powell, and Ziaire Williams who followed soon after as the Nets conducted hockey-style line changes often, Jordi Fernandez likely intent on spreading the minutes evenly in this back-to-back opener. That five stayed on the floor to begin the second, where Sharpe seemed to take offense any time Chicago tried to retake the lead. He rejected two shots in less than two minutes.

That rim defense had to be disheartening for the home fans watching, as just getting shots became a struggle for Chicago. They committed four turnovers just over four minutes into the period, bringing their total for the game to eight at the 7:39 mark of the second. That made it easy for the Nets to get out and run, give their young guns confidence, and get firing…

Danny Wolf x Drake Powell leveraging each other's space. pic.twitter.com/yv24XtWyln

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) December 4, 2025

It was a big first half for the guys on Brooklyn’s roster synonymous with that term. Even with Wolf doing things that might’ve gotten him accused of witchcraft 20 years ago and Sharpe hosting his block party, no one looked better than Nic Claxton, who seemed to finish every other possession in the second by running past Nikola Vučević for lay-ins.

Behind Porter, who had 17, Clax led the Nets into the half with seven points, a steal, and a block while shooting 3-of-4 from the field. He also got involved as a facilitator as the Nets once more took turns running the offense through different players minus Terance Man….

Nice feed from Claxton. Nice hang from Egor. Nice screen from MPJ… pic.twitter.com/gqnPfTujcX

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) December 4, 2025

The committee more than covered for Mann, as the Nets ended up tallying 30 assists for the night. After having only three games with that many or more all year, they now have two in each of their last two games.

Dëmin also came off the bench to grab seven first half points, all coming in the second frame. He got nearly half of them on a pull-up three in Josh Giddey’s grill. However, the very next time down the floor, Giddey bulldozed him en route to an and-one finish. That capped a partially good, partially bad, and entirely “rookie” kind of first half for the eighth overall pick.

Outside of Giddey, Chicago’s play, particularly their offense, was just the latter, offensive. You’d have to go to a dark place to imagine what they would have looked like in the first half without the do-it-all guard. He added 15 points, seven rebounds, and three assists in the first half. At the break, he was a +2, while other starters Julian Phillips and Ayo Dosunmu were both -7. Matas Bazelis was a -9. The Bulls scored only 44 points to Brooklyn’s 54, giving them their lowest scoring first half all season.

“We was guarding,” Clowney said. “First half, 44 points? We’ve had games where we allowed 70 in the first half, so, we was guarding, that was the main thing for us. We knew what we wanted to do and we did it, especially in the first half.”

As any seasoned NBA fan will tell you, there are two kinds of “bad” teams: those that simply lack talent, but never effort or focus, and those that don’t have any of the three. Not being the latter is what Brooklyn has prided itself on so far in the Jordi Fernández era, and the Bulls gave us a quick view of what the other side looks like to begin the third…

After Chicago quickly cut it to five to begin the quarter, the Nets swung back with their own 5-0 run, which eventually boiled into a 17-point Brooklyn lead. In that stretch, we saw Chicago commit an over-and-back violation, close out late on threes, commit additional turnovers and omit from hustling back on defense…

But that’s the thing about energy and focus, it’s all on you, and therefore easy to fix. The Bulls eventually did so, going on an 11-2 run in the heart of the period.

Brooklyn’s lack of talent then started to show too. As Chicago’s defensive intensity picked up, Brooklyn’s offense stalled, lacking shot creation outside of Porter Jr. Drake Powell dribbled into a turnover with about three minutes to go in the third, which queued up an easy Bazelis layup, which made it only a six point game.

Powell redeemed himself with a triple a few sequences later, which helped the Nets stay afloat and enter the fourth with an 83-75 lead. He only finished the game with five points, two assists, and a rebound, embodying the quietest rookie on the floor tonight, but there ended what would be Chicago’s last serious threat at a comeback.

In the fourth, the Nets opened up with a five including Wolf, Williams, Porter Jr., Clowney, and Claxton, betting again on the ultra-big lineup which helped Brooklyn seal the deal last time out…

good morning pic.twitter.com/qeKcUxIVWK

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 2, 2025

The coach cashed in again, as the Nets began the period on an 11-3 run. Clowney put on a PR clinic for he and his coach in the process. After going 0-4 from deep in the first half, he went 6-7 in the second half, splashing three in the final frame to finish with 20 points, seven rebounds, and two dimes.

“To be honest, my looks in the first half was probably better,” Clowney said. “I just ain’t make them. I don’t know if they gonna end on continuing to let me shoot or if they just missed communications, but it’s rare that I’m gonna miss the whole night. I’ll make some of them.”

Brooklyn led by as many as 19 in the final period, continuing to get contributions from Porter Jr. as well, who by that point had notched his seventh 30-point game of the season. In Denver, he never had more than six in a season. He reached the finish line with 33 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and a block while shooting 5-of-12 from deep.

“I think right now it’s less dancing, more finishing cuts, more keeping it simple,” Fernández said of MPJ. “Five assists, I know the turnovers right there, but the line is incredible. Led us in rebounding…He’s chasing drives, he’s rebounding, he’s engaged. I’m very happy to see the growth that I see. I believe he’ll still keep growing, because he’s having fun and he’s engaged.”

Fernández also saluted Porter’s leadership postgame.

“Right now, as you see, our team is so young, and they look up to him,” he said. “Obviously, because he was the young one when we were together, he had to look at others, and I think that step just takes time. Sometimes you think you know, but you don’t know until you know. Michael is a selfless person. He always talks about his teammates and I think that’s a positive.”

For reference, Porter took the time to shout out all five of Brooklyn’s rookie postgame for what they’ve been able to bring to the table this year while speaking with Meghan Triplett, including Nolan Traore, who was over 700 miles away this evening on Long Island.

The Bulls cut it to 11 with around six to play, but then Clowney passed the sniper rifle onto Wolf, who then handed it to Williams, who then gave it to Dëmin. Each hit big triples one after the other, and that was enough to stabilize the Brooklyn lead in the windy city. It also got them to a 19-46 3-point shooting night, tying a season-high for total made in a contest this year.

“Everybody contributed,” Fernández said. “That’s big. That’s how we want to play. We want to keep growing. It’s not going to be perfect, but if we keep getting 1% better every day, that’s the key.”

Indeed, it was.

Final: Brooklyn Nets 113, Chicago Bulls 103

Milestone Watch​

• Porter Jr. recorded his second 30-point double-double of the season and ninth of his career. He is the first Net with multiple 30-point double-doubles in a season since Kyrie Irving in 2022-23.
• Along with made threes (19) the Nets also tied their record for the season for highest 3P% in a game at 42.2%, as they also went 19-45 vs Cleveland in October.

Next Up​

Brooklyn will complete a back-to-back sequence tomorrow night, returning home to host the Utah Jazz for the first time this season. The Jazz don’t appear to be a strong tank competitors to the Nets as they were last year, posting a 7-13 record at the time of writing, but you can never be too safe with Danny Ainge’s crew. Utah beat Brooklyn both times last year.

• Boxscore: Brooklyn Nets 113, Chicago Bulls 103 – NBA
• Game Highlights: Brooklyn Nets 113, Chicago Bulls 103 (Video) – NBA
• Michael Porter Jr. on the Nets’ win over the Bulls (Video) – Meghan Triplett – YES Network
• Jordi Fernández discusses the Nets’ win in Chicago (Video) – YES Network
• Noah Clowney on 20-point game vs. Bulls (Video) – YES Network
• Nancy and Frank look back at the Nets’ win in Chicago (Video) – Frank Isola & Meghan Triplett – YES Network
• Porter scores 33 points to lead Nets past Bulls 113-103 for their 2nd straight win – Matt Carlson – AP
• Nets topple depleted Bulls for first win streak of season – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Could Giannis Antetokounmpo fit with Nets? It’s more complicated now ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets win back-to-back for first time this season behind Michael Porter Jr.’s 33 points ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• The Nets went big — really big — and found a lineup worth exploring ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets’ Jordi Fernandez non-committal on whether Danny Wolf, Ben Saraf will remain in rotation – Erik Slater – Clutch Points
• Nets player grades: Michael Porter Jr. drops 33 in solid win at Bulls – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-scor...-vs-bulls-113-103-michael-porter-noah-clowney

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

LIVE DISCUSSION: Brooklyn Nets at Chicago Bulls, 8:00 PM ET

First home win of the year. Sigh (Tsai?) of relief. The Nets go for two when they play host to the Bulls, the first of a back-to-back for Brooklyn. Chicago started off hot but they’ve lost four straight entering tonight. We’ll see if the good vibes remain in Kings County.

KEY INFO​

• WHO: Brooklyn Nets (4-16) vs. Chicago Bulls (9-11)
• WHEN: 8:00 PM ET
• WATCH: YES Network (TV) & Gotham Sports App

THE GAME​

“Josh Giddey has upped his game even with more ballhandling responsibilities. The scoring is up, but the most impressive thing is he’s cut his turnover rate down compared to last season. At only 23 years old, he still has room to grow and improve as a player. For Bulls fans, they hope he can take another step forward and be someone that can possibly get them back to actual contention one of these days.”

– Brian Fleurantin

INJURY REPORT​

• Nets (out): Cam Thomas, Terrance Mann, Haywood Highsmith=
• Bulls out / questionable: Noa Essengue, Isaac Okoro, Kevin Huerter, Coby White (out).
  Questionable: Zach Collins, Jalen Smith, Dalen Terry. Probable: Patrick Williams, Julian Phillips, Lachlan Olbrich.

***

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/nets-disc...sion-brooklyn-nets-at-chicago-bulls-800-pm-et

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

LIVE DISCUSSION: Utah Jazz at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 PM ET

Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Dare I say, the Brooklyn Nets are on a win streak! And 4-6 in the last 10. Not bad for a tanking team. Tonight’s opponent has been slightly better than expected entering the season. We’ll see how it goes….

KEY INFO​

WHO: Brooklyn Nets (5-16) at Utah Jazz (7-13)

WHEN: 7:30 PM ET

WATCH: YES NETWORK / GOTHAM SPORTS APP

Injuries​

No Cam Thomas, Haywood Highsmith, or Terrance Mann. Night two of a back-to-back so we’ll see if anyone else sits. Nolan Traore remains in G League but is making progress.

***

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/nets-disc...scussion-utah-jazz-at-brooklyn-nets-730-pm-et

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

The Brooklyn Podcast: The December Nets with Sharif Phillips-Keaton

The Nets might not be a good team, but they’ve looked better after every game and even won two in a row this past week. Brooklyn looks like that gritty, smart squad that might just spoil another tank. So, where does Cam Thomas, MPJ, and maybe even Giannis Antetokounmpo fit into all that? Sharif Phillips-Keaton of NetsWire (USA Today) joins the show to break it all down!

You can also check out the latest episode on Apple or Spotify.

Programming Note​

@thebrooklynpod pic.twitter.com/iKYn850iDf

— Anthony Puccio (@APOOCH) December 4, 2025

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-podc...the-december-nets-with-sharif-phillips-keaton