Erik Slater Articles - Page 2

The Brooklyn Nets will welcome Michael Porter Jr. back to their lineup on Monday vs. the Dallas Mavericks. Porter missed Sunday’s 103-98 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies for rest. The absence prompted some fans to speculate on a potential trade amid several reports of teams’ interest in the forward. However, Porter had sat during Brooklyn’s […]

The NBA trade deadline is less than a month away, and Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. is the name drawing the most buzz. With the Nets in the early stages of a rebuild and Porter in the midst of a breakout campaign, several contenders are interested in Porter’s services. That is, if the Nets […]

The Brooklyn Nets will be without leading scorer Michael Porter Jr. when they travel to face the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday. Porter Jr. will miss the game for rest on the front end of a back-to-back. With trade speculation surrounding Porter Jr. growing, some fans have suggested that the breakout forward’s absence could signal a […]

The Brooklyn Nets will look to rebound from a heartbreaking loss when they host the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday. They may be without their top player, Michael Porter Jr., as they attempt to do so. Porter Jr. was a late addition to Brooklyn’s injury report due to right knee soreness. The Nets listed him […]

Paolo Banchero’s game-winner crushed the Brooklyn Nets’ hearts during Wednesday’s 104-103 overtime loss to the Orlando Magic. However, for Nets fans, Egor Demin was the story of the night. Demin was an afterthought for the first 44 minutes of the game. Then, he flipped a switch, nearly propelling Brooklyn to an improbable comeback victory. After […]

Four years removed from their time together with the Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Durant and Ime Udoka have reunited with the Houston Rockets. Udoka coached Durant in Brooklyn as an assistant under Steve Nash in 2020-21. The duo is attempting to lead the Rockets to their first championship since 1995. Udoka revealed Durant’s most significant change since […]

After eight years together, the Atlanta Hawks and Trae Young are working together to find the star guard a new home. While Young reportedly has several destinations in mind, his desired landing spots don’t appear to be in the cards. Young’s camp has suggested the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves to the Hawks’ brass as […]

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr.’s All-Star case continues to gain momentum ahead of this year’s festivities. Porter Jr. jumped from 10th to ninth in the second return of the All-Star fan voting results. Michael Porter Jr. moves up to 9th in the second round of All-Star fan voting. pic.twitter.com/011rCq53f0 — Erik Slater (@erikslater_) January […]

Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe made a strong case for an expanded role during his first extended opportunity of the season. With Nic Claxton sidelined for the last two games due to personal reasons, Sharpe showcased his potential in a starting role. The fifth-year center averaged 15.5 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 2.5 steals and […]

Michael Porter Jr. had superstar expectations for himself when he entered the NBA. While he never reached those heights during his injury-riddled Denver Nuggets tenure, he’s making up for lost time with the Brooklyn Nets. Porter Jr. has planted himself firmly in the All-Star conversation amid a breakout season as Brooklyn’s No. 1 option. After […]

Michael Porter Jr. is spreading his wings as an NBA centerpiece. Following years in a complementary role with the Denver Nuggets, Porter Jr. has emerged as an All-Star candidate following his trade to the Brooklyn Nets. Despite this, Nuggets head coach David Adelman has no regrets about how the team used the forward during his […]

Following a failed contract negotiation with the Brooklyn Nets last summer, Cam Thomas is searching for a long-term NBA home. The 24-year-old is headed for unrestricted free agency and faces an uncertain future with the Brooklyn Nets. Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant implored an NBA team to build around his polarizing former teammate. “I feel […]

The Brooklyn Nets will be severely shorthanded on Friday against the Washington Wizards in a game with significant tank implications. Michael Porter Jr. will be sidelined for his second consecutive game after missing Thursday’s 120-96 loss to the Houston Rockets with an illness. The Nets also ruled Nic Claxton (personal reasons) and Cam Thomas (left […]

The Brooklyn Nets will be shorthanded when they host the Houston Rockets on Thursday. Egor Demin was ruled out for the matchup, the first of a back-to-back, due to lower back soreness. Thursday’s game will mark Demin’s third absence of the season. The rookie point guard also sat out a pair of back-to-backs earlier in […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ front office was lambasted following a historic 2025 draft. Fast forward six months, and the team is in the midst of the NBA’s most dramatic turnaround, with several rookies playing critical roles. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr is among those taking notice of the Nets’ promising early draft returns. “It looks like […]

Draymond Green has had numerous battles with Michael Porter Jr. over the years. However, Monday’s Golden State Warriors-Brooklyn Nets matchup had a different feel. Following his trade from the Denver Nuggets, Porter Jr. has excelled while making the jump to a lead offensive role with the rebuilding Nets. Green is the latest NBA star to […]

The Brooklyn Nets have pulled off the NBA’s most shocking turnaround early this season. A defensive resurgence has been at the center of their success. After posting a league-worst 128.5 defense rating during a 0-7 start, the Nets hold the NBA’s best defensive rating (105.4) in December while posting a 7-4 record. After Cam Thomas […]

Brooklyn Nets superfan Mr. Whammy has been taunting opposing free-throw shooters for decades. He received some pushback from one of the NBA’s most fiery trash-talkers during the Nets’ 120-107 loss to the Golden State Warriors on Monday. Draymond Green had words for Mr. Whammy after making a free throw during the third quarter. “I told […]

It’s been three years since the Brooklyn Nets have had an All-Star. Michael Porter Jr. is threatening to end that drought amid a breakout start following his trade from the Denver Nuggets. Porter Jr, who has never made an All-Star team, ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference in the first round of this year’s fan […]

The Brooklyn Nets faced the toughest test of their recent hot streak on Saturday. They passed with flying colors, dominating the Minnesota Timberwolves, 123-107, before a sellout crowd at Target Center. The win marked Brooklyn’s seventh in its last 10 games. While many teams have taken the supposedly tanking Nets lightly during that stretch, Anthony […]

The Brooklyn Nets filled their last open two-way spot on Friday, signing rookie Chaney Johnson. A 6-foot-7 wing, Johnson spent his first three college seasons at Division 2 Alabama Huntsville before transferring to Auburn for the last two seasons. During his two seasons with the Tigers, Johnson helped lead them to the 2024 SEC Tournament […]

Brooklyn Nets rookie Drake Powell’s third ankle sprain of the season will only hold him out two games. After missing Brooklyn’s wins over the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers, Powell is available to return on Saturday vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves. Powell injured his right ankle during the first quarter of a Dec. 18 loss to […]

After being cast off as a salary dump by the Denver Nuggets this summer, Michael Porter Jr. is proving his doubters wrong. The Brooklyn Nets forward is turning heads across the NBA, with career-best offensive efficiency and shotmaking that has left his teammates at a loss for words. “Some of those shots are like, man, […]

Cam Thomas is making his long-awaited return to the Brooklyn Nets’ lineup. Jordi Fernandez announced that Thomas, who has been sidelined since Nov. 5 by a left hamstring strain, will play on Saturday vs. the Minnesota Timberwolves. Thomas’ return comes amid a dramatic Brooklyn turnaround in the wake of his absence. The Nets are 9-12 […]

Tyrese Maxey has been among the NBA’s top scorers this season. However, the Philadelphia 76ers star was no match for the Brooklyn Nets’ surging defense on Tuesday. The Nets held Maxey to his worst offensive performance of the season, limiting him to 13 points on 3-of-14 shooting while cruising to a 114-106 win. “I think […]

Brooklyn Nets rookie Ben Saraf is attempting to find his groove in the G League. After struggling during two NBA stints early this season, Saraf is seeing extended minutes at point guard with the Long Island Nets. His latest performance could earn him another opportunity with Brooklyn. Saraf scored 40 points on 14-of-26 shooting from […]

With his NBA career on hold, Ben Simmons has pivoted to the world of professional fishing. Simmons is the new controlling operator of the South Florida Sails of the Sport Fishing Championship, a professional offshore saltwater fishing league. While the former Philadelphia 76ers star is pursuing his passion for fishing, he’s still pondering his NBA […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ defense looked like their biggest tank weapon to begin the season. Jordi Fernandez’s squad posted an NBA-worst 128.5 defensive rating during a 0-7 start. Fast forward to December, and the Nets are allowing the fewest points in the NBA (102.3). When asked about his team’s shocking defensive turnaround, Fernandez credited his assistant […]

The Brooklyn Nets don’t expect Drake Powell to be sidelined for an extended period with his latest ankle injury. Powell missed Sunday’s win over the Toronto Raptors and will not play on Tuesday vs. the Philadelphia 76ers after suffering his third right ankle sprain of the season. Despite this, Jordi Fernandez said the Nets aren’t […]

Brooklyn Nets rookie Nolan Traore spent the last two months awaiting an extended NBA opportunity. Following a breakout stint in the G League, the No. 19 pick received it on Sunday. Traore played 22 minutes during the Nets’ 96-81 win over the Toronto Raptors, posting eight points, three rebounds, two assists and one turnover. He […]

For the second straight game, the Brooklyn Nets’ defense overwhelmed an opponent. Only this time, the rebuilding squad found the fourth-quarter shotmaking to get over the hump. The Nets played one of their best complementary fourth quarters of the season en route to a 96-81 win over the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at Barclays Center. […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is nearing a return from a multi-month absence. Sidelined since Nov. 5 by a left hamstring strain, Thomas participated in a five-on-five scrimmage on Saturday. While he did not suffer a setback, the Nets are taking a cautious approach with the guard’s return timeline. “CT is doing great. He had […]

Nolan Traore is the last of the Brooklyn Nets’ five rookies yet to receive an extended NBA audition. After a stellar G League stretch over the last month, Traore appeared in line for an opportunity last week. However, the 19-year-old played only 18 total minutes across two games during his NBA call-up. Jordi Fernandez said […]

Brooklyn Nets rookie Drake Powell has been sidelined by another right ankle injury. After he exited Friday’s loss to the Miami Heat with a right ankle sprain, the Nets ruled Powell out for Sunday’s home matchup with the Toronto Raptors. Powell sprained his ankle in the first quarter of the Heat loss and was promptly […]

Fans attending Thursday’s Brooklyn Nets-Miami Heat matchup shouldn’t have been expecting an offensive masterclass. The product they received was as far from it as one could imagine. The Nets fell 106-95 to the Heat at Barclays Center, shooting 38-of-98 (38.8 percent) from the field and 11-of-49 (22.4 percent) from three. Both teams struggled to generate […]

The Brooklyn Nets were riding high following a 4-2 stretch during which they played their best basketball of the season. However, the rebuilding squad came crashing back to earth during a 106-95 loss to the Miami Heat on Thursday. The matchup was the first of a six-game slate that could vault the Nets back into […]

Drake Powell’s poor luck with ankle injuries continued during Thursday’s Brooklyn Nets-Miami Heat matchup. The Nets rookie suffered a right ankle sprain during the first quarter of the game and was promptly ruled out. Powell sprained the same ankle twice earlier this season, forcing him to miss six games. The No. 22 pick was sidelined […]

Haywood Highsmith still has several hurdles to clear before making his Brooklyn Nets debut. After undergoing meniscus surgery in August, the veteran forward has yet to progress to contact drills or five-on-five scrimmages. “He’s in a good place, shows up every day and does his job, is an ultimate pro,” Jordi Fernandez said. “He’s on […]

The Brooklyn Nets made history on Sunday against the Milwaukee Bucks, and they did it without their head coach. With Jordi Fernandez sidelined by an illness, the Nets dominated the Bucks at Barclays Center, 127-82, trying their largest win in franchise history. Fernandez, who watched from home alongside his wife and two kids, had a […]