The Brooklyn Nets have been transparent about simultaneously carrying out their short- and long-term plans, trying to stay competitive despite the losses piling up while also developing the young players they hope will be cornerstones of a future championship contender. Brooklyn’s roster has had many moving pieces over the last month, notably the trades of guard Dennis Schröder to the Golden State Warriors on December 15 and forward Dorian Finney-Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers on December 29.
“Everyone has got a job to do,” Nets general manager Sean Marks said in October prior to the start of the season. ”Our job out here and (head coach Jordi Fernández’s) job on the court is to help develop a culture, develop an identity, and establish that as the season goes on. Ultimately, our goal, it’s been the same way every year, is to go out there and compete and compete at the highest level, no matter what the stakes may be and no matter what is being put in front of you is to go and compete and establish that identity through that.”
The Nets fought admirably on Sunday night at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City before ultimately losing to the Utah Jazz 112-111 in overtime. It was their fifth straight defeat and Brooklyn was 2-10 over their previous 12 games going into Tuesday night’s matchup on the road versus the Portland Trail Blazers.
One of the young players the Nets are giving an opportunity to establish himself is forward Tosan Evbuomwan. Born and raised in Newcastle, England and of Nigerian descent, Evbuomwan, who was undrafted after completing his college eligibility in 2023, scored a career-high 22 points versus the Jazz, missing only one of his eight shots while nailing two three-pointers and grabbing five rebounds in 24 minutes of action.
The former Princeton Tiger and 2022 Ivy League Player of the Year, was afforded the extra playing time with a slew of injuries to the team, including Cam Thomas, who is sidelined with a left hamstring strain that will be reevaluated next week, Cam Johnson, who has not played since January 2 with a right ankle sprain, and the recently reacquired D’Angelo Russell, out with a right shin contusion.
“(Evbuomwan is) always under control,” Fernandez said. “Looks like a guy that has been there before, and he’s 23. Very happy to see him, keep working with him, keep developing him. He’s doing his job and that’s what we’re asking all of us: keep working, keep getting better and go out there to compete and fight.”
A six-foot-five-inch guard/forward, Evbuomwan played for the Detroit Pistons and Memphis Grizzlies last season and is now cherishing his time with Brooklyn.
“I’m really blessed to be here and be around the guys,” he said. ”Coaching staff is great, the camaraderie is there. We just need to, I think, bring it together on the court for the whole game and like I said, there’s little moments where we don’t and that’s what hurts us.
“But love being here, love being part of the group. Those guys are super encouraging, everyone, whether playing or not and they’ve been super helpful with me getting comfortable playing here and learning all the new stuff and things like that.”
The Nets faced the Los Angeles Clippers last night and will meet the Los Angeles Lakers tomorrow. They will finish their six-game road trip on Sunday against the Western Conference-leading Oklahoma City Thunder. Brooklyn returns to Barclays Center to host the Knicks next Tuesday and then the Phoenix Suns at Barclays on Wednesday.