The Brooklyn Nets have not started the 2026-2027 season as they had hoped. Head coach Jordi Fernández’s squad was 2-8 heading into last night’s (Wednesday) matchup versus the New Orleans Pelicans. It was the third game of a four-game road trip, which will conclude on Saturday in Memphis against the Grizzlies.
Despite their lack of wins, some Nets have shown individual growth. Point guard Nolan Traoré and power forward Danny Wolf, both part of the Nets’ 2025 NBA Draft class, are currently starters who have shown growth and promise.
Meanwhile, Brooklyn’s starting center Day’Ron Sharpe is in his sixth season in the NBA, but has still not reached his ceiling. He is among the core of the team’s construction plans. A young veteran at 25 years old, Sharpe has the opportunity to cement himself as a foundational piece. He was averaging a career-high 23.7 minutes per game before facing the Pelicans after playing 18.7 minutes per contest last season.
Sharpe has improved his overall skillset over his tenure with the Nets, but one aspect that has particularly stood out this season is his playmaking ability. Sharpe recorded his first career triple-double on Saturday night in Atlanta in a 124-121 loss to the Hawks, scoring 12 points, dishing out a career-high 13 assists, and adding 10 rebounds. Sharpe also had eight assists in last week’s 114-104 win over the Charlotte Hornets, and dished out six dimes in Sunday’s 130-93 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. “Yeah man, 13 assists, four turnovers, that’s elite numbers and [I’m] proud of him,” Fernández said after the loss to Atlanta.
He also praised Sharpe following a 98-90 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Nov. 1, the Nets’ first win of the season. “We don’t win this game without him,” Fernández emphasized.
The Nets are clearly a work in progress, blending Sharpe, established All-Star/All-NBA forward Julius Randle, and NBA champion Michael Porter Jr., with rookies including Mikel Brown Jr., the No. 6 overall pick in last June’s draft from Louisville. Brown has impressed Fernández and the veterans in his brief time with the team. However, he isn’t playing in back-to-back games as he deals with ongoing left ankle and back issues. “I think I’ve explained it before that it’s not my thinking. It is a plan that we have with professionals that know exactly how your body is, how you feel after,” said Fernández on Saturday in Atlanta.
“Then we assess the player, and then once we assess the player, then we keep building him up. So, right now he’s not going to play back-to-backs, and I’ll obviously let you know when he does,” Fernández said. “We are happy where he is; he’s playing well, he’s doing great things. His body is where we want it to be, and we want to keep him getting better.” After playing the Grizzlies, the Nets return home to Barclays Center to host the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, Nov. 16, and the Chicago Bulls on Nov. 18.
