Erik Slater Articles - Page 30

The Phoenix Suns began an organizational makeover when they traded Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson for Kevin Durant at last year’s deadline. The team continued that revamp following a second-round loss to the eventual champion Denver Nuggets by firing head coach Monty Williams. Williams was reunited with Bridges and Johnson, who played under him from […]

The Brooklyn Nets made a bet against the Phoenix Suns’ future when they traded Kevin Durant at last year’s deadline. General manager Sean Marks acquired Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, unprotected first-round picks in 2025, 2027 and 2029, and an unprotected first-round pick swap in 2028. While that bet is still in its infancy, Brooklyn appears […]

The Detroit Pistons made history Saturday at Barclays Center with a 126-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. The defeat marks Detroit’s 26th straight, tying the longest single-season streak in NBA history, also held by the 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers and 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers. Before the record-matching loss, Pistons head coach Monty Williams took full responsibility for […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons doesn’t know when he will be able to return to the floor amid a six-week absence due to a back injury. The Nets announced Wednesday that Simmons has “displayed consistent strength improvement” and will be re-evaluated in two weeks. However, the three-time All-Star said Friday that he has not […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons spoke to the media Friday for the first time since being sidelined by a nerve impingement in his surgically repaired back. The three-time All-Star has missed the last six weeks due to the injury. The Nets released a statement Wednesday saying Simmons has “displayed consistent strength improvement” and “further […]

The NBA’s age-old adage goes, “It’s a make-or-miss league.” Mikal Bridges has been on the wrong end of that saying of late, and the result has been a 1-5 stretch for the Brooklyn Nets. Bridges is averaging 16.3 points per game on 31.9 percent shooting during that span. After a disappointing five-game West Coast trip, […]

The slumping Brooklyn Nets are expected to receive much-needed reinforcements ahead of Friday’s matchup with the Denver Nuggets. The Nets listed guard Dennis Smith Jr. as probable vs. Denver after he missed the team’s last seven games due to an upper back sprain. After missing six games from Nov. 19-30 due to a lower back […]

The Brooklyn Nets fell 121-102 to the New York Knicks Wednesday at Barclays Center. The blowout loss comes after a disappointing 1-4 West Coast swing from head coach Jacque Vaughn’s squad. Here are three key takeaways from another lackluster Nets performance: Cam Johnson bounces back after disappointing road trip Johnson could not find his rhythm […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons will remain sidelined indefinitely due to a nerve impingement in his back, the team announced Wednesday. “Simmons has displayed consistent strength improvement in the affected area over the past two weeks and has further increased individual court work. His status will be updated again in approximately two weeks,” Brooklyn […]

Nic Claxton’s impending unrestricted free agency is among the Brooklyn Nets’ top question marks of the 2023-24 season. Despite his uncertain future with the Nets, the breakout center recently expressed his desire to make Brooklyn his long-term home, via Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. “A place where I’m wanted,” Claxton said of his free agency desires. […]

The Brooklyn Nets fell victim to the injury bug during all four seasons of the Kevin Durant-Kyrie Irving era. A quarter of the way into 2023-24, it has been more of the same. After Nic Claxton, Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas all missed multiple weeks early in the year, Ben Simmons has been sidelined for […]

The Brooklyn Nets had a prime opportunity to salvage a five-game West Coast swing against a struggling Utah Jazz squad Monday at Delta Center. Instead, they fell flat on their faces during a 125-108 loss, sealing a disappointing 1-5 finish to the trip. 🎆 Two double-doubles🎆 Three guys with 20+ points🎆 Six guys in double-figures […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas had struggled to replicate his early-season brilliance in seven games since returning from an ankle injury entering Saturday’s matchup with the Golden State Warriors. Thomas shook off the rust at Chase Center, scoring a game-high 41 points on 15-of-24 shooting in a last-second 124-120 loss. Cam Thomas broke out of […]

The Brooklyn Nets dropped a thriller 124-120 to the Golden State Warriors Saturday at Chase Center. The Nets dug themselves a 16-point hole at halftime, and despite a valiant second-half effort, Stephen Curry refused to let them climb out of it. After Brooklyn came back to take the lead with six minutes remaining, Curry scored […]

Less than one season after trading away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets passed on a chance to acquire another superstar this summer. With the Portland Trail Blazers’ negotiations with the Miami Heat going nowhere, Damian Lillard’s agent phoned Nets general manager Sean Marks to tell him he was interested in a trade […]

The Brooklyn Nets fell 124-101 to the Denver Nuggets Thursday at Ball Arena on the back end of a back-to-back. Following a last-second victory over the Phoenix Suns Wednesday, Brooklyn was no match for the defending champs before a sellout Denver crowd. Here are three key takeaways from the blowout loss. Fatigue sets in for […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Dennis Smith Jr. will remain out for the final two games of the team’s West Coast trip against the Golden State Warriors and Utah Jazz, head coach Jacque Vaughn said Thursday. “It’s just been too many days that he’s been off the court for him to ramp back up to join us […]

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 […]