The Nets practiced for the first time in what felt like forever on Wednesday.
Drew Timme, who inked a two-year deal last week, stepped foot inside the team’s practice facility in Brooklyn for the first time. Two-way players Tyson Etienne, Tosan Evbuomwan and Reece Beekman were also present, along with Dariq Whitehead, who spent most of the 2024-25 season on G League assignment with those guys on Long Island.
“It was good just to get out on the same page and dig into some things that I’m pretty sure all the guys who hadn’t been here haven’t gotten a lot of reps, so it was pretty good,” Trendon Watford said.
Cam Thomas, who was ruled out for the season in March because of a left hamstring strain, was even seen getting up shots as players and coaches trickled out of the gym. While the Nets are far from healthy at this point in the league year, practicing for the first time in a while, with the practice court filled with new and old faces, served as a late-season positive for the group.
Continuity matters, even with the playoffs out of reach. And lesser-known players still have six games left to make their best impression, which gives most of this roster something to play for down the stretch.
“There’s going to be times, and there’s been times that we’ve given opportunities and minutes to some other guys, and maybe we will again,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “Every guy, every player that has been on the court, for us, for the most part, has competed at a high level, and tried to do the right thing. So that’s what I want to do for six more games.”
Timme has averaged 13 points and 6.3 rebounds on 60.7% shooting across his first three NBA games. Etienne scored eight points in his NBA debut against the Clippers last Friday. Guys like Whitehead and Beekman are still trying to prove that they can be reliable backcourt options in the league. And Evbuomwan has showcased impressive versatility in his 22 appearances for Brooklyn.
Timme, Etienne, Beekman and Maxwell Lewis played major four-quarter minutes against the Clippers. The Nets were blown out 132-100 but won the final frame 31-27. And that’s the exact type of effort Fernandez is looking for.
“Didn’t go the way we wanted, but they were ready to play, they played in the fourth quarter, and they won the quarter,” Fernandez said. “I’m confident that whenever I put them on the court, they’ll play hard and try to challenge everybody else. That’s what’s all about; taking advantage of your opportunities.”
