Manifestation works in unusual methods.
Earlier than Brooklyn’s matchup towards the Charlotte Hornets on Monday, rookie ahead Danny Wolf admitted he’d been half-joking with teammates that he may exit and dunk on any individual. However when a lane opened for him with 2:03 left in regulation, the joke instantly had an opportunity to develop into actual. He attacked the rim with pressure, rose up with authority and caught a physique.
DANNY WOLF THROWS IT DOWN 💪
Brooklyn leads within the 4Q: https://t.co/ncRdJ4zvFl pic.twitter.com/KJtaqsZHLe
Wolf, all 6-11 and 252 kilos of him, wanted just one dribble to glide from the 3-point line to the basket. Then he unloaded a vicious right-handed slam over Miles Bridges, one of many league’s most explosive leapers. There was no howl, no over-the-top celebration. Wolf merely strutted alongside the baseline, arms swinging, proudly owning the second like he’d been there earlier than whereas the Nets’ bench erupted and Barclays Middle roared.
By Tuesday morning, Wolf’s emphatic jam had landed at No. 3 on SportsCenter’s Prime 10 performs. It additionally put an exclamation level on Brooklyn’s first dwelling win of the season and marked the primary victory of Wolf’s NBA profession the place he performed a significant function. However for all of the promise Wolf had proven in his final two outings, together with a career-high 22 factors towards the Bucks on Saturday, no person anticipated that.
“I didn’t know he had it in him, honestly, so it caught me off guard,” Nic Claxton stated. “But, I mean, that was a magnificent dunk.”
Performs like that go a great distance towards incomes respect within the locker room. And as Wolf’s minutes proceed to develop, each the Nets and the remainder of the league are beginning to see precisely what the previous Michigan standout can do.
“I’ve said it multiple times, that Danny is one of my favorite rookies that I’ve ever played with,” Michael Porter Jr. stated. “From Day 1 in training camp, he surprised me with his ability to handle the ball, the way he moves quick on his feet, the way he can pass, the way he can shoot. So, being out there with him [tonight] was really, really fun. It was my first time on the floor with him, so I think he’s growing up.”
The dunk wasn’t even essentially the most spectacular a part of Wolf’s evening in Brooklyn’s 116-103 win. The 21-year-old noticed the ground early however didn’t make a lot of an influence by two quarters, then sat the complete third. As an alternative of sulking, he answered in a giant approach. Wolf erupted within the fourth, scoring all 10 of his factors on 4-for-6 taking pictures and grabbing 5 rebounds to assist the Nets draw back.
Brooklyn led by solely six getting into the ultimate body and would normally lean on Porter’s scoring to shut out a sport like this. However on Monday, the fourth quarter belonged to Wolf. He stayed prepared when his quantity was known as and caught hearth precisely when the Nets wanted him most.
“It’s kind of the mindset you have to have, especially as a rookie in my shoes,” Wolf stated. “Obviously I had a pretty good game against Milwaukee, and coming into [Monday], Mike’s healthy again and you don’t really know what it’s going to look like… You look at that as an opportunity, and [Jordi] is big on opportunities, and just being ready and doing what I can to help the team win.”
