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Nets rookie Nolan Traore earns Jordi Fernandez praise after 28-point performance in G League
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- Nets rookie Nolan Traore earns Jordi Fernandez praise after 28-point performance in G League
The post Nets rookie Nolan Traore earns Jordi Fernandez praise after 28-point performance in G League appeared first on ClutchPoints .
The Brooklyn Nets are undertaking the unprecedented task of developing five rookie first-round picks this season. While Egor Demin and Drake Powell are enjoying NBA rotation roles early in the year, the team's other rookies are awaiting their opportunity. For Nolan Traore , Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf , that means learning from G League reps with the Long Island Nets.
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After struggling during the preseason and his brief regular-season NBA minutes, Traore turned in a breakout performance on Saturday. The No. 19 pick scored 28 points on 11-of-20 shooting from the field and 6-of-9 from three with nine assists and three turnovers during a 128-113 win over the Greensboro Swarm.
Brooklyn head coach Jordi Fernandez offered Traore high praise following the Long Island win.
"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."
Traore's 28-point showing is a welcome sight after a string of disappointing performances.
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Nolan Traore impresses with 28-point performance during G League assignment
Erik Williams-Imagn Images
With Demin sidelined during training camp, Traore struggled to produce while battling Saraf for Brooklyn's point guard minutes. The 6-foot-4 point guard averaged 4.5 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 3.0 turnovers on 41/17/75 shooting splits across four preseason appearances.
Traore has seen extended playing time in one NBA game this season. He posted four points, one rebound, three assists and two turnovers on 1-of-5 shooting in 21 minutes during a Nov. 27 loss to the Houston Rockets . Brooklyn assigned Traore, Saraf and Wolf to the G League shortly after.
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Following a slow start with Long Island, Traore is beginning to find his rhythm. He's averaged 17.0 points, 2.2 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 4.2 turnovers on 43/36/80 shooting splits across five appearances. With Saraf sidelined by an ankle sprain, the French prospect will see heavy minutes during the G League squad's coming games.
Traore was a projected top-10 pick in the 2025 draft at this time last year after he dominated several top prospects at the Nike Hoop Summit. However, following an up-and-down season in France, he fell to the Nets at the No. 19 pick. The 19-year-old will battle with Demin and Saraf for point guard minutes in the coming seasons as the Nets move forward in their rebuild.
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