Overlook the Nets’ present three-game shedding streak. Throw win projections out the window. This season was at all times meant to be about participant improvement. Figuring out who the “next Nets” are, as basic supervisor Sean Marks mentioned at Media Day. Head coach Jordi Fernandez constructed his whole workers with that purpose in thoughts, and they’re getting the job executed.
Dariq Whitehead’s breakout efficiency in Monday’s 128-102 highway loss to the Chicago Bulls gives additional proof that Marks made the precise rent, and that the franchise is monitoring towards a greater future. Whitehead’s path to prolonged minutes within the NBA has been turbulent. The accidents in school at Duke. Two appearances as a rookie. Season-ending surgical procedure final January to handle a stress response in his left shin. The grueling months of rehab that adopted, then a tough exhibiting at Las Vegas Summer time League.
However in opposition to the Bulls, the 20-year-old lastly had a second, ending with a team-high 18 factors in just below 24 minutes. He added two rebounds, one assists, two steals and one block, and turned the ball over solely as soon as. He additionally went 6-for-10 from 3-point vary. Fernandez and his workers — and the G League coaches on Lengthy Island — coached him up, and the previous first-round choose stepped up when his quantity was known as.
The overall factors, 3-pointers made, and steals Whitehead recorded on Monday have been all profession bests. Overlook the ultimate rating. Progress like that is what issues most.
“I think it was more so about coming in and doing the small things, if that was rebounding early or taking on the best defensive assignments,” Whitehead mentioned. “I knew the offense part would come to me if I did the small things that coach wanted, and I feel that it’s just [about] staying ready…. making sure when my name was called, I was able to go out there and give something towards the team.”
Monday was Whitehead’s fifth profession look. He averaged 13.3 factors, 4.5 rebounds and a pair of.8 assists throughout six G League appearances this season whereas capturing 34.6% from the sphere and 34.1% from 3-point vary. The Nets picked up his third-year choice in October.
Cam Thomas, Jalen Wilson, Noah Clowney, Ziaire Williams and Keon Johnson have all showcased the developmental strides they’ve made as NBA gamers this season. You may throw a veteran like Cam Johnson into that blend, too.
Monday was Whitehead’s flip to show simply how far he has come. This season can have no scarcity of alternatives. Who shall be subsequent?
“I asked him to be ready to shoot, to play like he knows what we’re about and what we’re trying to do,” Fernandez mentioned of Whitehead. “Just don’t overthink it and do it, and he did an amazing job… But the reality is, he put the work in, the coaches that he works with, the medical performance, he got healthy. Obviously, I’m happy to see that.”
