Latest news with #SteveHetzel
Yahoo
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets Summer League preview: Schedule, roster, players to watch
The Nets' historic rookie class debuts Thursday night as Brooklyn takes on the Oklahoma City Thunder in their opening game of the NBA 2K26 Summer League in Las Vegas. All but Drake Powell, the No. 22 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, who reportedly suffered a knee injury during the pre-draft process and will sit out as a precaution. Advertisement The Nets consider Powell's injury minor. The 6-5 forward averaged 7.4 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist last season at North Carolina, where he earned the program's Defensive Player of the Year award as a freshman. Nets assistant coach Steve Hetzel will lead the team as Summer League head coach for the second straight year. After Thursday's game, Brooklyn will face the Washington Wizards on Sunday at 8 p.m. ET at the Thomas & Mack Center, followed by matchups against the Knicks on Tuesday at 6 p.m. ET and the Orlando Magic on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET, both at Cox Pavilion. All 30 NBA teams will play at least five games in Vegas, with the first four games scheduled from July 10-17. After these four games, the top four teams, based on winning percentage, will advance to the playoffs, competing in the semifinals on July 19. The two semifinal winners will face off in the championship game on July 20. The 26 teams that don't qualify for the four-team playoff will play a fifth game on July 18, 19 or 20. Last year under Hetzel, the Nets posted a 3-1 record, missed the playoffs, and finished 3-2 after falling to the Charlotte Hornets in their fifth consolation game. Advertisement ROSTER Guards: Egor Dëmin, Nolan Traoré, Ben Saraf, TJ Bamba, Caleb Daniels, Tyson Etienne, Quincy Olivari, Terry Roberts Forwards: D'Andre Davis, Tosan Evbuomwan, Grant Nelson, Tyrese Samuel, Drew Timme, Danny Wolf Center: Justyn Hamilton NOTABLE ABSENCES Dariq Whitehead: Although Whitehead is entering his third NBA season, his absence from the Nets' roster is notable. Injuries have hindered his development, and among third-year players listed, he could have benefited most from additional Summer League experience. The 20-year-old appeared in only 20 games for Brooklyn last season, averaging 5.7 points and 1.5 rebounds per game. Advertisement Jalen Wilson: Wilson still has much to prove at the NBA level after an inconsistent second season in which he shot just 39.7% from the field and 33.7% from 3-point range in 79 games. However, he dominated last year's Summer League, earning MVP honors with averages of 21.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists and 0.6 steals while shooting 47.3% from the field and 55% from deep over five games. Following that standout performance, Wilson has earned a well-deserved break this summer. Noah Clowney: Could Clowney benefit from more Summer League experience? Absolutely. However, given his recent injury history, playing this summer may not be in his best interest. Prioritizing a full recovery for the 2025-26 regular season is the smartest approach. The 20-year-old averaged 9.1 points and 3.9 rebounds across 46 appearances last season. PLAYERS TO WATCH Dëmin: All eyes are on the No. 8 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft; a selection many experts considered a reach. While Summer League offers limited insights, Dëmin has an opportunity to shift perceptions with a strong performance in Vegas. The 6-8 guard enters his rookie season as one of the top playmakers in his class. His outside shooting, offensive aggressiveness and defensive versatility will be key areas to watch. Advertisement Traoré: Once projected as a Top 5 pick, Traoré slipped to 19th overall, fueling his motivation for Summer League. The 19-year-old, known for his blazing speed and acrobatic finishes, aims to prove he deserved a higher selection. How he complements the Nets' other young guards will shape his role in Brooklyn's rotation next season. Elite perimeter defense and dynamic shot creation could set him apart. Saraf: Brooklyn selected two point guards before Saraf in the 2025 NBA Draft. How will the 19-year-old Israeli floor general respond? Lacking the length and athleticism of Dëmin and Traoré, Saraf excels as a high-IQ playmaker who knows how to get his teammates involved. As a ball-dominant creator overseas, adapting to an off-ball role with the Nets will enhance his value. Wolf: The 6-11 forward is among the most intriguing prospects in Summer League because of his offensive versatility. His playmaking, both in the post and on the perimeter, will be a focal point. Wolf must prove himself defensively and demonstrate physicality and effectiveness regardless of his matchup. As a turnover-prone player in college, he must prove he can reduce giveaways in Summer League as well.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
What Nets fans should be watching for at 2025 NBA Summer League
Jul 12, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Alondes Williams (31) gestures while dribbling the ball during an NBA Summer League game against the Memphis Grizzlies at Cox Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports The post What Nets fans should be watching for at 2025 NBA Summer League appeared first on ClutchPoints. The Brooklyn Nets made NBA history last month as the first team to make five first-round picks in a single draft. Later this week, their unprecedented draft class will take the floor together for the first time at the 2025 Las Vegas Summer League. Advertisement The Nets announced their Summer League roster last weekend, and all five of the team's rookies will play. That group includes Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf. Brooklyn will also send several players from last year's NBA roster to Las Vegas, including Tosan Evbuomwan, Drew Timme and Tyson Etienne. Evbuomwan and Etienne are on two-way contracts, while Timme has a non-guaranteed standard deal. Third-year draft picks Noah Clowney, Dariq Whitehead and Jalen Wilson will not play. Quincy Olivari and Grant Nelson are notable additions to the Nets' Summer League roster. Olivari spent last season on a two-way contract with the Los Angeles Lakers. Nelson starred for Alabama in 2024-25 before going undrafted and signing an Exhibit 10 contract with Brooklyn. Nets assistant Steve Hetzel will coach the team for the second straight year. Advertisement Nets' historic draft class headlines 2025 NBA Summer League roster Brooklyn's rookie class has been subject to scrutiny following the draft. The Nets' decision to use all five of their first-round picks shocked most draft observers. Their decision to select three international point guards, each known for their passing ability, also left many scratching their heads. Despite this, General Manager Sean Marks and Head Coach Jordi Fernandez are confident that they have assembled a versatile group that can share the floor effectively. Demin's play in Las Vegas will be the main storyline for the Nets' Summer League squad. The BYU point guard is widely regarded as the best passer in this year's draft class. However, his limited athleticism and average ball-handling ability limited him as a scorer last season, as he averaged 10.6 points per game on 41/27/70 shooting splits. Advertisement Demin's outside shot will be critical if he hopes to thrive as a lead ball-handler and play other positions. While he struggled at BYU (27.3 percent from three on 4.7 attempts per game), he reportedly shot exceptionally well during pre-draft workouts, giving the Nets confidence that he'll be an effective floor-spacer. Traore and Saraf also struggled as outside shooters last season. They'll both need to improve in that area to unlock their playmaking and downhill scoring ability. Powell, a 6-foot-5 wing out of North Carolina, flashed elite defense and solid three-point shooting (37.9 percent on 2.6 attempts per game) last season. However, he was very limited outside of a spot-up role offensively. His 13.8 usage rate during his pre-draft season was the lowest of any wing ever drafted, according to the Athletic's Sam Vecenie. Yet, he flashed significant on-ball capabilities as a five-star recruit coming out of high school. Powell's ceiling with Brooklyn will hinge on his ability to space the floor and develop as a threat off-the-dribble. Advertisement Meanwhile, Wolf was among the most exciting players in college basketball last season. The 6-foot-11 big man often handled the ball in the pick-and-roll with Michigan, flashing elite passing and downhill scoring ability. Fernandez, who previously coached Nikola Jokic and Domantas Sabonis, has voiced a desire to utilize his big men as half-court hubs offensively. While Wolf shot just 33.6 percent from three last season, his smooth stroke inspires hope that he can develop into a floor-spacing threat alongside Brooklyn's numerous point guards. The Nets will kick off Summer League on Thursday at 5:30 PM EST against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They'll then face the Washington Wizards on July 13, the New York Knicks on July 15, and the Orlando Magic on July 16. Related: Kevin Durant trade grades for record-breaking 7 teams involved in blockbuster Advertisement Related: NBA rumors: Rockets' Kevin Durant trade becomes 7-team deal
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets announce 2025 Summer League roster
The Nets were extremely active during the 2025 NBA Draft, as they became the first team in league history to use all five of their first-round picks last month. And in a matter of days, the newest group of rookies will get its first taste of pro competition. With annual Summer League action scheduled to tip-off late next week in Las Vegas, the Nets announced their roster for the showcase on Saturday. The 16-player roster will be headlined by guards Egor Dëmin (selected No. 8 overall) and Nolan Traore (No. 19 overall), and their three additional first-rounders -- forward Drake Powell, guard Ben Saraf, and forward Danny Wolf -- are making the trip as well. Advertisement The Nets are also sending a few non-rookies to the Vegas courts, as center Drew Timme, forward Tosan Evbuomwan, and guard Tyson Etienne are featured on the roster. All three players logged minutes for the Nets last season, and two are currently signed to two-way contracts. Nets assistant coach Steve Hetzel will lead the team for a second straight summer. They're slated to play at least four games, with their first coming next Thursday, July 10, against the reigning champion Thunder (5:30 p.m.). The Nets will also battle the Wizards on July 13, the crosstown rival Knicks on July 15, and the Magic on July 16. The Nets' entire 2025 Summer League roster can be found below.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Nets announce roster for 2025 NBA Las Vegas Summer League
The Brooklyn Nets are less than one week away from seeing what some of the youngest players on the team are ready to do at the next level. Following the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Draft, Brooklyn only has to wait until July 10 when the 2025 NBA Las Vegas Summer League tips off and now, Nets fans know who will be playing during that time. The Nets announced on Saturday their roster for the Las Vegas Summer League as the team is gearing up for a 2025-26 season that is hopefully better than 2024-25. For starters, Brooklyn assistant coach Steve Hetzel will once again be leading the Nets during the event as he looks to improve from last year's 3-2 record to hopefully guide the team to the league championship. Advertisement When the Nets begin play at 5:30PM ET on July 10 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they will be led on the court by players like guard Egor Demin, the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and guard Nolan Traore, the 19th overall pick. The Nets' other three draft picks, forward Drake Powell (22nd overall pick), guard Ben Saraf (26th), and forward Danny Wolf (27th) will be playing as well. In addition to the youngest players taking the floor for Brooklyn, they will have some veterans on the court as well with players like forward Tosan Evbuomwan, center Drew Timme, and guard Tyson Etienne on the roster. All three veterans played for the Nets last season and as it stands, Evbuomwan and Etienne are set to spend time in Brooklyn and in Long Island since they are currently signed to Two-Way contracts. This will be Brooklyn's 11th time competing in the Las Vegas Summer League for the 11th time. Last season, under the guidance of Hetzel, Jalen Wilson played arguably the best basketball of his career as he averaged 21.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game on 47.3/55.0/89.5/ shooting splits. Wilson's performance earned the Summer League MVP award so it will be interesting to see if someone on the Nets can do something similar this time around. This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets announce roster for 2025 NBA Las Vegas Summer League
USA Today
05-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Nets announce roster for 2025 NBA Las Vegas Summer League
The Brooklyn Nets are less than one week away from seeing what some of the youngest players on the team are ready to do at the next level. Following the conclusion of the 2025 NBA Draft, Brooklyn only has to wait until July 10 when the 2025 NBA Las Vegas Summer League tips off and now, Nets fans know who will be playing during that time. The Nets announced on Saturday their roster for the Las Vegas Summer League as the team is gearing up for a 2025-26 season that is hopefully better than 2024-25. For starters, Brooklyn assistant coach Steve Hetzel will once again be leading the Nets during the event as he looks to improve from last year's 3-2 record to hopefully guide the team to the league championship. When the Nets begin play at 5:30PM ET on July 10 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they will be led on the court by players like guard Egor Demin, the eighth overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft and guard Nolan Traore, the 19th overall pick. The Nets' other three draft picks, forward Drake Powell (22nd overall pick), guard Ben Saraf (26th), and forward Danny Wolf (27th) will be playing as well. In addition to the youngest players taking the floor for Brooklyn, they will have some veterans on the court as well with players like forward Tosan Evbuomwan, center Drew Timme, and guard Tyson Etienne on the roster. All three veterans played for the Nets last season and as it stands, Evbuomwan and Etienne are set to spend time in Brooklyn and in Long Island since they are currently signed to Two-Way contracts. This will be Brooklyn's 11th time competing in the Las Vegas Summer League for the 11th time. Last season, under the guidance of Hetzel, Jalen Wilson played arguably the best basketball of his career as he averaged 21.8 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 1.0 assists per game on 47.3/55.0/89.5/ shooting splits. Wilson's performance earned the Summer League MVP award so it will be interesting to see if someone on the Nets can do something similar this time around.
