Day’Ron Sharpe loved a profession night time within the Nets’ 129-121 loss to the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder on Wednesday at Barclays Middle, ending with 25 factors, 15 rebounds, 5 assists and three blocks in 31 minutes.
Sharpe received his first begin of the season and the thirteenth of his profession on Wednesday rather than Nic Claxton, who served a one-game suspension for extreme technical fouls. The fourth-year heart missed the primary 20 video games of the season due to a hamstring pressure and has averaged 8.7 factors and 6.6 rebounds throughout 36 video games since.
Nonetheless, after a dominant efficiency in opposition to the Thunder, Sharpe joined San Antonio’s Victor Wembanyama as the one gamers to publish not less than 25 factors, 15 rebounds, a number of steals, a number of blocks and a number of 3-pointers made in a recreation this season.
“He was amazing and I’m sure that even though we didn’t win the game, everybody’s happy for him because he’s worked hard, and now he saw this opportunity, and he took advantage of it,” head coach Jordi Fernandez stated.
Sharpe began 8-for-8 earlier than lacking two pictures within the fourth quarter. He went 2-for-3 from deep, showcasing his improved vary, and his mobility and conditioning look like in a special stratosphere in comparison with when he first entered the league in 2021-22.
Sharpe’s health was a priority earlier in his profession, however his confidence was by no means questioned. Now he’s proving what he’s able to in prolonged minutes. Over his final 15 video games, he’s averaging 20.6 factors and 14 rebounds (6.5 offensive) per 36 minutes whereas capturing 63% from the sphere, 67% from deep and 82% from the free throw line.
“Day’Ron’s a beast,” Ziaire Williams stated. “He’s a double-double machine. He works really hard, man. Weight room, court. He’s just a great guy to be around. A great locker room guy. Always making guys laugh and smile. So definitely proud of him. This is just the start.”
The Nets are outscoring opponents by 14.4 factors per 100 possessions with Sharpe on the court docket. He’s additionally main the league in offensive rebounding proportion amongst gamers who common not less than quarter-hour per recreation.
And when you ask Sharpe, he’ll inform you that is who he’s all the time been.
“Jordi [Fernandez], Steve [Hetzel], [Deividas] Dulkys, Juwan [Howard] just give me confidence,” Sharpe instructed reporters after Wednesday’s recreation. “They’re not really and not really the type of coaches who tell you not to do this, not to do that, or you’re coming out… So just having my coaches have confidence in me, my teammates have confidence in me. They always tell me ‘Day, go, you got this. We’ve seen you do this.’ So, I just feel like it’s just the atmosphere.”
Sharpe is proving he generally is a high quality heart within the NBA. Maybe even a starter. Nonetheless, the Nets gave Claxton a four-year, $100 million extension final summer season, and Sharpe is about to enter restricted free company this summer season.
Fernandez instructed reporters forward of Wednesday’s recreation that he has no real interest in enjoying two bigs. Sure, iron sharpens iron. But when Sharpe needs to take one other leap in his improvement, he can’t share heart minutes with Claxton endlessly.
“Maybe I can do it here and there, which I believe I’ve done. I don’t remember what game, but they played together for a little bit in one game,” Fernandez stated. “But right now, they have to be working together, tag team.”
Regardless of how contract negotiations between Sharpe and the Nets play out this summer season, the 23-year-old plans to proceed his ascension regardless, whether or not it’s in Brooklyn or elsewhere.
“I’m just here to hoop,” Sharpe stated. “So, wherever that might be, I’m still going to do my job.”
