Erik Slater Articles - Page 24

One pressing question faced the Brooklyn Nets when guard Cam Thomas returned from an nine-game absence early this season: Would he start? Thomas had averaged 28.7 points per game, the ninth-most in the NBA, on 48.3 percent shooting before being sidelined by an ankle sprain. He came off the bench in his first game back. […]

The Phoenix Suns’ matchup with the Brooklyn Nets Wednesday marked the start of a new era, with the team’s big three of Devin Booker, Kevin Durant, and Bradley Beal taking the floor for the first time. However, as one era began, a reminder of another returned. Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson returned to face their […]

The Phoenix Suns were the NBA’s worst team for three seasons before the arrival of Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, posting a 68-178 record from 2015 to 2018. Fast forward to last season’s blockbuster trade that sent both players to the Brooklyn Nets for Kevin Durant, and the Suns were a perennial title contender with […]

For the first time since last season’s trade deadline blockbuster, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson will return to Phoenix on Wednesday as members of the Brooklyn Nets. The duo, affectionately nicknamed “The Twins” during their Phoenix days, became fan favorites throughout the Suns’ turnaround from 2019 to 2023. Both are expected to receive a tribute […]

The Brooklyn Nets have officially ruled out guard Dennis Smith Jr. for Wednesday’s road matchup with the Phoenix Suns. The absence will mark Smith’s third straight due to an upper back sprain. After missing six games from Nov. 19-30 due to a lower back sprain, the offseason minimum signing was among Brooklyn’s most productive players […]

When Harry Giles III parted ways with the Sacramento Kings in the summer of 2020, it was unclear what his NBA future would hold. Giles, the former No. 1 high school prospect in the Class of 2017, saw his college and early NBA career sidetracked by knee injuries. The Oak Hill Academy product had short […]

Mikal Bridges drew league-wide praise for his elite scoring efficiency during a 30-game stretch following his trade to the Brooklyn Nets last season. Despite a slow start to the 2023-24 season, Bridges is surpassing those scoring numbers a quarter of the way through the year and making a strong case for his first All-Star appearance. […]

The Brooklyn Nets played most of the 2022-23 season with a hole behind breakout center Nic Claxton. That roster void – a product of second-year center Day’Ron Sharpe’s inability to crack the rotation – played a significant role in the team’s 29th-ranked rebounding, with Brooklyn frequently being forced into small-ball lineups. Twenty-one games into 2023-24, […]

Former New Jersey Nets superstar Vince Carter made a homecoming of sorts Saturday. Carter made his YES Network debut as an analyst for the Brooklyn Nets’ broadcast during the team’s 124-97 win over the Washington Wizards at Barclays Center. The future Hall-of-Famer, who ranks third on the Nets’ all-time scoring list, received a warm ovation […]

The Brooklyn Nets are exceeding expectations early in the 2023-24 season. Despite a slew of injuries and the NBA’s 11th-most difficult schedule, the new-look squad has posted an 11-9 record and holds the league’s seventh-best offensive rating. After the blockbuster trades of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving upended the team at last year’s deadline, general […]

The Brooklyn Nets could be without two key role players for a difficult upcoming road trip. Brooklyn will host the Washington Wizards Friday before departing for a five-game West Coast swing with stops in Sacramento, Phoenix, Denver, Golden State and Utah. Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn confirmed Friday that guard Lonnie Walker IV, who has […]

After a disappointing Nov. 30 loss to the shorthanded Charlotte Hornets, the Brooklyn Nets have won back-to-back games against the Orlando Magic and Atlanta Hawks, two playoff-caliber opponents. Following a six-game absence due to a lower back strain, backup guard Dennis Smith Jr. returned and played a key role in both contests. Mikal Bridges pointed […]

The Brooklyn Nets were in a prime position to pick up their fourth win in five games after taking a two-point lead over the Atlanta Hawks with 22 seconds remaining Wednesday at State Farm Arena. However, as he did in Brooklyn’s November 22 overtime loss at Atlanta, Trae Young would attempt to play spoiler, coming […]

The Brooklyn Nets have one of the NBA’s top offenses this season despite the extended absence of starting point guard Ben Simmons. The three-time All-Star has missed Brooklyn’s last 12 games due to a nerve impingement in his back, a development many thought would halt the team’s elite fastbreak attack. Yet, the Nets’ offense ranks […]

After a slow start to the 2023-24 season, Mikal Bridges is ascending to the All-Star-level he played at following his trade to the Brooklyn Nets at last year’s deadline. Over his last 10 games, Bridges is averaging 25.9 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while recording 49/41/83 shooting splits. Following a […]

Many doubted the Brooklyn Nets’ ability to field a competent offense after trading away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving at last year’s trade deadline. Yet, 19 games into the 2023-24 season, the Nets rank sixth in offensive rating, scoring 116.7 points per game. They’ve accomplished this despite extended absences to Cam Thomas, Ben Simmons, Cam […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Lonnie Walker IV is expected to miss the team’s next seven games due to a left hamstring strain. Walker sat out Brooklyn’s win over the Orlando Magic Saturday after injuring his hamstring during Thursday’s loss vs. the Charlotte Hornets. Head coach Jacque Vaughn said Tuesday that Walker will not travel with the […]

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn made it no secret amid Cam Thomas’ lack of playing time last season: he wanted to see the young guard improve as a playmaker. After an impressive training camp, Thomas earned a rotation role for the first time in his career this season. His performance during Saturday’s win over […]

Mikal Bridges entered 2023-24 with All-Star expectations following a career-best 27-game stretch with the Brooklyn Nets to close last season. He showed why during the Nets’ 129-102 win over the streaking Orlando Magic on Saturday. Off the heels of a disappointing loss to the Charlotte Hornets Thursday, Bridges stole the show at Barclays Center against […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons received an epidural injection and will be sidelined for at least another two weeks, the team announced Saturday.  The three-time All-Star has missed Brooklyn’s last 11 games due to a nerve impingement in his back. Despite the extended timeline, Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said Simmons has not suffered […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons will be sidelined for at least another two weeks by a back injury, the team announced Saturday. “As part of his planned rehab, Ben Simmons received an epidural injection to aid in the overall recovery in his lower back and continues to improve,” the Nets said in a statement. […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas has emerged as one of the NBA’s top scorers while stepping into an expanded role with the team early on this season. The 23-year-old is averaging 26.8 points per game, the 14th-most in the NBA, on 48.4 percent shooting from the field. While his high-level production has surprised the casual […]

The Brooklyn Nets will receive much-needed defensive reinforcements for Saturday’s matchup with the Orlando Magic. Dennis Smith Jr. is expected to return vs. Orlando after missing the team’s last six games with a lower back sprain. Brooklyn allowed a Hornets team without LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller to shoot 21-of-36 shooting from three (58.3 percent) […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas returned during a 129-128 loss to the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday after missing the team’s last nine games with an ankle sprain. The 23-year-old picked up right where he left off, scoring a team-high 26 points on 11-of-21 shooting. https://streamable.com/zm4jhh Cam Thomas effective off bench for Nets Thomas came off […]

The Brooklyn Nets checked several necessary boxes to pick up an expected win over the Charlotte Hornets Thursday at Barclays Center. They shot 49.5 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from three. They dominated the offensive glass, grabbing 22 offensive rebounds on their way to a 14-shot advantage and a season-high 31 second-chance points, […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas will return Thursday vs. the Charlotte Hornets after missing the team’s last nine games with an ankle sprain. After spending most of his first two seasons on the bench, Thomas quickly established himself as one of the NBA’s leading scorers upon stepping into an expanded role to start 2023-24. The […]

The Brooklyn Nets entered the 2023 offseason with a clear goal of improving their league-worst rebounding. The Nets ranked 29th on the boards in 2022-23 and lost the second-chance points battle 80-22 during a first-round playoff sweep against the Philadelphia 76ers. Despite that debilitating weakness, general manager Sean Marks didn’t acquire an established frontcourt piece […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is expected to return on Thursday night against the Charlotte Hornets after missing the team’s last nine games with a left ankle sprain. The Nets listed Thomas as probable on their initial injury report Wednesday. Thomas participated in full-court, five-on-five scrimmages following Brooklyn’s shootaround Tuesday, according to head coach Jacque […]

The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Toronto Raptors 115-103 Tuesday in their final group play matchup of the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament. The Nets closed the first half on a 17-2 run to take control of the game. They shot 45 percent on the night while holding the Raptors to 39 percent shooting. Spencer Dinwiddie led […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is on the verge of returning from an ankle sprain that has sidelined him for eight games. Thomas participated in full-court five-on-five scrimmages Tuesday ahead of Brooklyn’s in-season tournament matchup with the Toronto Raptors, per head coach Jacque Vaughn. “He’s trending in the direction of hopefully playing with us soon,” […]

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson has been forced out of two of the team’s last three games with cramping in his right leg. Johnson sat the entire overtime period of Wednesday’s loss against the Atlanta Hawks after tipping in a go-ahead layup at the end of regulation. He also exited during the third quarter of […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas is nearing a return after missing the team’s last eight games with an ankle sprain. The Nets listed Thomas as doubtful on their initial status report for Tuesday’s NBA In-Season Tournament matchup with the Toronto Raptors. The Nets announced Wednesday that Thomas has made significant progress and is expected to […]

The Brooklyn Nets play host to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, with an opportunity to advance to the quarterfinals of the NBA’s inaugural In-Season tournament. While many players remain unfamiliar with the tournament’s format, Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie said there’s one thing they all understand. “I mean, I don’t know all the particular rules. I […]

For the ninth time in their first 16 games, the Brooklyn Nets were without starting center Nic Claxton when they took on the Chicago Bulls on Sunday night. Claxton was a late scratch ahead of the Nets 118-109 win over the Bulls due to a sprain of the same ankle that sidelined him for eight […]

A historic second quarter propelled the Brooklyn Nets to a 118-109 victory over the Chicago Bulls Sunday at Barclays Center. Playing on the back end of a back-to-back, the Nets looked like a team upset they weren’t home watching Sunday night football in the first quarter. They trailed 36-17 at the end of the frame, […]

No current Brooklyn Nets player has spent more time with the organization than Spencer Dinwiddie. Since rejoining the team at last year’s trade deadline, Dinwiddie has continued climbing up the franchise’s record books. The 10-year veteran recorded 11 assists in Saturday’s win over the Miami Heat, the first of which moved him past Vince Carter […]

Brooklyn Nets rookies Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead made their NBA debuts on Saturday during a 112-97 win over the Miami Heat. The pair of 19-year-olds — the second and third-youngest players in Nets history to appear in a game, trailing only Derrick Favors – received a loud ovation from the Barclays Center crowd when […]

The Brooklyn Nets snapped a three-game losing streak Saturday at Barclays Center with a 112-97 win over the Miami Heat, who were without Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, and Duncan Robinson on the back end of a back-to-back. Here are three key takeaways from a decisive Brooklyn win. Spencer Dinwiddie dices up makeshift Miami defense With […]

This time last year, Kevin Durant was lacing up his shoes for the Brooklyn Nets. The future Hall of Famer begrudgingly returned to the team following a failed offseason trade request, with the intention of eventually joining the Phoenix Suns. Despite a tumultuous summer, the Nets looked like a contender with Durant leading the way. […]