Erik Slater Articles - Page 4

The Brooklyn Nets will be without Michael Porter Jr. during Friday’s home matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers. Porter Jr. was ruled out for the game due to lower back tightness. Friday’s game will mark Porter Jr’s second absence of the season and his first due to an injury. The 6-foot-10 forward missed a Nov. 3 […]

Cam Thomas’ return from his hamstring injury will take longer. Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez had no update on Thomas’ return when asked at practice on Wednesday, exactly three weeks after Thomas suffered his injury. The Nets released a statement on Nov. 7 saying that Thomas would be reevaluated in three to four weeks. […]

Noah Clowney’s performance last season raised questions about his future with the Brooklyn Nets. Following his injury-riddled 2024-25 campaign, during which he shot 35.8 percent from the field, it was unclear whether Clowney would be a building block or a future roster casualty like fellow 2023 first-round pick Dariq Whitehead. The third-year forward has silenced […]

Ziaire Williams was riding high entering the 2025-2026 campaign. After turning in a career-best season following his trade to the Brooklyn Nets, Williams signed a two-year, $12 million contract extension this summer. However, a rough start to this season has raised questions about his future with the team. Williams has been unable to replicate his […]

It’s been nearly three years since the Brooklyn Nets defeated the New York Knicks. Monday’s meeting at Barclays Center was another reminder of the gaping chasm between the crosstown rivals. The Nets fell 113-100 for their 12th straight loss to the Knicks, the longest streak in either direction in the series’ history. Brooklyn competed early […]

The Brooklyn Nets are undertaking the unprecedented task of developing five rookie first-round picks this season. While Egor Demin and Drake Powell are enjoying NBA rotation roles early in the year, the team’s other rookies are awaiting their opportunity. For Nolan Traore, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, that means learning from G League reps with […]

The Brooklyn Nets have proven they can hang with playoff-caliber teams over their last five games. However, closing those games has been a struggle that underscores how far they are from being a complete team. Brooklyn’s late-game ineptitude reared its head again during Sunday’s 119-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors. After falling behind 12-0 to […]

The Memphis Grizzlies are signing former first-round pick Kobe Bufkin via a 10-day hardship exception, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The move comes as the Grizzlies battle injuries to numerous key contributors — including Ja Morant, Jaren Jackson Jr., Scotty Pippen Jr., Brandon Clarke and Ty Jerome — amid a 6-11 start. The Atlanta Hawks […]

Michael Porter Jr. has never been known for his playmaking ability throughout his NBA career. The 28-year-old’s shoot-first mindset with the Denver Nuggets was so glaring that he earned the nickname, Michael “Never Swing the Rock” Porter. However, following his trade to the Brooklyn Nets, the veteran forward is shouldering the burden of a No. […]

The Brooklyn Nets are in the midst of their worst start (2-12) to a season in 16 years. However, after the team made an NBA-record five first-round picks in June’s draft, this season is about laying the foundation for future success. Jordi Fernandez, who has compiled a 28-58 record across two tanking seasons to begin […]

Four years removed from his NBA Finals appearance with the Phoenix Suns, Cam Johnson has returned to the NBA spotlight. After he spent last season as the face of the tanking Brooklyn Nets, an offseason trade to the Denver Nuggets sent Johnson from the NBA’s basement to the forefront of the championship race. While the […]

Egor Demin is facing steep expectations after the Brooklyn Nets selected him with their first lottery pick in 15 years. The 19-year-old is receiving tutelage from Nets great Vince Carter as he begins his NBA career. Carter spent time with the Nets during their preseason trip to Macao. The Hall-of-Famer will serve as an analyst […]

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. sparked controversy this offseason with several comments he made during podcast appearances. During a recent appearance on Lonzo Ball’s podcast, “Ball in the Family,” Porter Jr. revealed the Nets urged him to keep his more controversial opinions to himself. “For the most part, I’m trying to chill. Especially during […]

The Brooklyn Nets fell 113-99 to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday at Barclays Center. Jordi Fernandez’s squad led by as much as 10 early in the game and regained the lead midway through the fourth quarter, but could not muster the offense to get over the hump. While the loss dropped the rebuilding squad to 2-14 […]

Brooklyn Nets rookie Egor Demin started his sixth consecutive game on Tuesday but was once again benched down the stretch. Demin logged just eight second-half minutes during a 113-99 loss to the Boston Celtics, the fewest of any full-time member of Brooklyn’s rotation. Jordi Fernandez pulled Demin with the Nets trailing by six with eight […]

The Brooklyn Nets are gradually improving following a historically bad start to the 2025-26 campaign. Jordi Fernandez’s squad picked up its second win on Sunday, dominating the Washington Wizards 129-106 at Capital One Center. Brooklyn nearly defeated the Orlando Magic on the road on Friday, leading 98-94 with 1:58 remaining before collapsing in the final […]

The Brooklyn Nets have their sights set on draft lottery odds rather than wins this season. After falling to the No. 8 pick in June’s draft, the rebuilding squad is hoping for better fortunes next summer. ESPN projected the Nets to land Kansas star Darryn Peterson with the No. 1 pick in its latest mock […]

A humbled Nic Claxton spoke before the media at April’s exit interviews following the Brooklyn Nets’ 2024-25 campaign. The 26-year-old was coming off his worst season in years, during which he battled a debilitating back injury. Claxton took responsibility for his subpar play and said he was looking forward to using the offseason to get […]

Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Saraf sprained his left ankle on Saturday while playing in a G League game with the Long Island Nets and will be reevaluated in 10 days, the team announced on Monday. Saraf started Brooklyn’s first five games at point guard. The Israeli floor general showed flashes but struggled to produce […]

A fan who went viral for charging at Donovan Mitchell during an Oct. 25 Cleveland Cavaliers-Brooklyn Nets matchup in Brooklyn received a harsh punishment. According to Cleveland.com’s Chris Fedor, the fan has been banned from attending any event at Barclays Center and all league-related events (NBA, WNBA, G League and 2K) that take place at […]

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. is beginning a new chapter in his basketball journey. Following his offseason trade from the Denver Nuggets, that means figuring out how to fit into a team that doesn’t feature Nikola Jokic. Many, including Porter Jr., assumed his new role with the rebuilding Nets would entail a drastic uptick […]

Wins, let alone blowouts, have been a foreign concept to the Brooklyn Nets this season. However, the rebuilding squad got a taste of dominance during Sunday’s road matchup with the lowly Washington Wizards. The Nets routed their tank rival 129-106 before a scanty crowd at Capital One Center. Both teams entered the matchup with one […]

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. turned in the best all-around quarter of his career to begin Friday’s Orlando Magic matchup. Yet, a game that looked like a turning point for the 6-foot-10 forward and the struggling Nets ended in heartbreak with a 105-98 loss. Porter Jr. posted six assists in the first quarter of […]

Rookie development is the top storyline of the Brooklyn Nets’ 2025-26 campaign. Yet, the team’s draft picks have frequently taken a backseat early in a tanking season. Egor Demin’s late-game benching during Friday’s 105-98 Orlando Magic loss was the latest example. Despite starting his fourth consecutive game, the No. 8 pick played just seven second-half […]

Brooklyn Nets rookie Egor Demin is still adjusting to life in the Big Apple. During a recent appearance on From The Logo with Jimmer Fredette, Demin revealed that his first rent payment was one of the most difficult parts of the transition from BYU to the NBA. “I paid my rent, which was not easy. […]

Embarrassing would be too generous a descriptor for the Brooklyn Nets’ defensive performance to open the season. The tanking squad posted a 126.3 defensive rating during a 1-10 start, seven points worse than last year’s league-worst Utah Jazz. Jordi Fernandez is attempting to implement one of the NBA’s most aggressive defensive schemes. Brooklyn’s inability to […]

Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe is nearing a return from an injury amid the team’s 1-10 start. After missing Tuesday’s 119-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors, the Nets upgraded Sharpe to probable for Friday’s road matchup with the Orlando Magic. Sharpe exited Sunday’s blowout loss to the New York Knicks with left hamstring soreness. However, […]

Danny Wolf’s first extended NBA minutes will have to wait longer. The Brooklyn Nets assigned Wolf and fellow rookie Ben Saraf to their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, on Thursday. That move comes after the team elevated Wolf and Saraf to Brooklyn for Tuesday’s 119-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Despite Day’Ron Sharpe […]

The Brooklyn Nets are positioned to be a major player in free agency next summer. Following two seasons of tanking, the rebuilding squad will attempt to take a significant step forward in 2026-27. An Eastern Conference executive is adamant that the Nets should sign Los Angeles Lakers guard Austin Reaves this summer to lead that […]

The Brooklyn Nets’ selection of Egor Demin with their first lottery pick in 15 years was much-maligned. However, after a slow start, the rookie point guard is slowly but surely proving his detractors wrong. Demin turned in the best performance of his young career on Tuesday during his third consecutive start. The 19-year-old posted 16 […]

The Brooklyn Nets dodged a significant injury to a key contributor. Day’Ron Sharpe exited Sunday’s loss to the New York Knicks with what was reported as left hamstring tightness. However, following evaluation, the team concluded that the injury is a left glute contusion. Sharpe was ruled out for Tuesday’s home matchup with the Toronto Raptors […]

Ten games into the Brooklyn Nets’ season, Danny Wolf is the only one of the team’s five rookies yet to play extended NBA minutes. That could change in the coming days. After losing Cam Thomas to a hamstring injury, the Nets were dealt another injury blow during Sunday’s loss to the New York Knicks. Backup […]

The Brooklyn Nets will attempt to pick up their second win of the season when they host the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday. They’ll be missing a key frontcourt piece during the matchup. After he exited Sunday’s loss to the New York Knicks with left hamstring tightness, the Nets ruled out Day’Ron Sharpe for the Toronto […]

Drake Powell’s offensive limitations were a red flag among NBA front offices entering June’s draft. Yet, the Brooklyn Nets were confident enough in the North Carolina wing’s two-way abilities to select him with the No. 22 pick. The early returns on that selection, one many have called a gamble, have been promising. Powell has exceeded […]

While the New York Knicks have their sights set on a championship this season, the Brooklyn Nets are eyeing losses and lottery odds. It showed on Sunday. The Nets were demolished 134-98 before a sellout crowd at Madison Square Garden. Brooklyn trailed by as much as 39 points during the embarrassing defeat. It marked the […]

The Brooklyn Nets may be without another rotation piece due to a hamstring injury. Day’Ron Sharpe exited Sunday’s 134-98 loss to the New York Knicks due to left hamstring tightness and did not return. “No, there hasn’t been any testing. It’s just tightness. So we’ll do our evaluation and whatever we have to do,” said […]

The New York Knicks-Brooklyn Nets rivalry has an added layer this season. Newly-hired Knicks head coach Mike Brown has been a mentor to Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez, who served as an associate head coach with the Sacramento Kings from 2022 to 2024. While Brown and Fernandez still share a close bond, the New York […]

One game into his G League career, Ben Saraf is already making a strong case to return to the Brooklyn Nets’ rotation. The rookie point guard dominated during his Long Island Nets debut on Friday, leading the team to a 109-102 win over the Capital City Go-Go. Saraf posted 21 points, four rebounds and three […]

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas missed most of the 2024-25 campaign due to three left hamstring injuries. Following an offseason spent rehabbing, Thomas is sidelined by yet another hamstring strain. The 24-year-old injured himself during the first quarter of Wednesday’s win over the Indiana Pacers and will be out for at least three to four […]