Tag: Media Day 2023

Nets’ Trendon Watford knows being ‘versatile’ is his way onto the court

Brooklyn Nets forward Trendon Watford has a shot to earn rotation minutes and for him to do that, he has to use his positional versatility.

NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets forward Trendon Watford, like many of the other free-agents that were brought in this summer, will be looking for a way to break into the Nets’ usual rotation and carve out a consistent role. Watford seems to understand that the secret to him getting more minutes is taking advantage of his ability as a versatile big man.

“I pretty much talked to coach Jacque (Vaughn) just about the positions I played in Portland,” Watford said during Monday’s Media Day. “My best attributes is just being able to play both positions and being able to do multiple things,” Watford continued.

As of this writing, Brooklyn has gone through two days of training camp and one thing is certain: the Nets need as much as they can get from every guy on the roster if they are going to beat the odds this season. Every player from incumbents like Mikal Bridges and Nic Claxton to new arrivals like Watford will have to consistently do what they’re good at if Brooklyn is going to make it back to the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season.

“Being a versatile guy that can do multiple things at multiple positions at the four and the five,” Watford said to describe what kind of player he is. The former LSU product knows what he brings to the table for Brooklyn, but also mentioned that he doesn’t expect to be pigeonholed into one position in the frontcourt. “I wouldn’t say that he (Vaughn) necessarily talked to me about putting me at just one position.”

From hearing what Watford said, it seems that he has multiple ways to help the team. If he isn’t able to be a viable backup at center Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe, then he could be someone who can contribute at power forward.

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Nets’ Nic Claxton wants to ‘grow’ with the current roster

Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton showed during Media Day on Monday that he is still motivated to make an impact on both ends of the floor.

NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets center Nic Claxton showed the entire NBA world what he can do when given the opportunity to be himself on the floor. Not only did Claxton prove that he has a promising future in the league, but that he still has some growing to do as well.

“I think personally it’s a lot of the same goals,” Claxton said during Media Day on Monday when asked about his goals for the 2023-24 season. Claxton achieved career-highs in almost every statistical category last season, including points per game (12.6), rebounds per game (9.2), and blocks per game (2.5). “Defensive player of the year and just impacting the game like I did last year on both sides of the court every single night. I want to be available for every game,” Claxton continued.

One of the major storylines for Claxton last season was that he was one of the candidates for the Defensive Player of the Year award when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were still on the team. After both superstars were traded, it seems that the voters for the award forgot that Claxton was playing defense the same way even though the team wasn’t as dominant because of the change in personnel.

“It makes my blood boil,” Claxton said regarding when he thinks about not making All-Defense at all despite how he played throughout the season. Claxton did finish last season tied for ninth in the voting along with Philadelphia 76ers superstar Joel Embiid, who also won the Most Valuable Player award.

Instead of Claxton doubting himself for not receiving any accolades for his defensive impact last season, he seemed more certain of himself because of the work that he put in on that end of the floor. “I was robbed of a defensive team, not even saying defensive player of the year. I was robbed of it. My numbers were amazing, I passed every eye test,” Claxton explained.

As this season begins, Claxton seems more determined to make an impact on the floor, regardless of whether he ends up with any awards to show for it or not. He knows his value to the Nets, especially on the defensive side of the ball, and he uses that as his motivation to continue to get better as a player.

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Brooklyn Nets rookies detail ‘amazing’ experience to start season

The incoming 2023 rookie class for the Brooklyn Nets used Media Day on Monday to share their thoughts of how their experience has been.

NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets are a different team this time around as this current era of Nets basketball is centered around development and potential while trying to win games at the same time. Brooklyn will be interesting to follow throughout the season from multiple angles, including the progression of their rookies.

“We’ve been taking it day by day,” Dariq Whitehead, Brooklyn’s 22nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, said during Monday’s Media Day in response to being asked where he is in his recovery from foot surgery. The last time that Whitehead spoke publicly in August, he said that he was feeling good and that his rehab is going great so it seems that there are no setbacks as of right now.

“I got to some working out on the court, doing some running on the court but, more so not playing fives or any contact,” Whitehead continued. It looks like Whitehead will be limited throughout training camp, but it’s also good news that Brooklyn is giving him all the time that he needs to come back from his foot issue.

While Whitehead’s rehab is coming along nicely, he and the other rookies each have their own goals for what they want to accomplish this season. “I think obviously we all had a goal that we want to play,” Noah Clowney, the Nets’ 21st overall pick, said for what he envisions for himself as this season progresses.

“But, I don’t really have major goals. I want to play, I want to win games, I want to contribute,” Clowney continued. All three rookies, including Jalen Wilson, the 51st overall pick in the draft, will most likely spend the majority of their time in the G League this season. The main reason for that is because of how deep the current rotation is right now.

“I would say just be able to contribute,” Wilson said, seemingly in agreement with Clowney and Whitehead with what he’s trying to get out of the 2023-24 season. Wilson played extremely well at the summer league in Las Vegas and made All-Summer League second team as a result. Now, he’s looking to build on that momentum.

“Help contribute to building a good culture. I feel like that’s most important when you know a team wants to go out and win games, you got to have a good culture,” Wilson explained.

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Nets’ Cam Johnson wants to continue ‘constant climb’ this season

Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson doesn’t see the constant climb in his game stopping anytime soon. Here’s more from Johnson on Media Day.

NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets forward Cam Johnson has his contract situation settled and he will be in Brooklyn for the near future. Now that he is taken care of, he’s looking forward to being the best player he can be for the franchise.

“Being able to be trusted in in all areas of the game,” Johnson during his session of Media Day on Monday when asked what the next steps are for his game. When the Nets start playing games that matter towards the end of October, they will be relying heavily on Johnson to be the best version of himself if Brooklyn is going to make it to the postseason and beyond.

“Being reliable. Being able to be put in multiple positions, on the ball, off the ball, and continuing to grow,” Johnson continued. “Scoring repertoire, defensive repertoire, and obviously contributing more and more on the glass.”

Before Johnson can continue to grow on both ends of the floor, he has to overcome the injury that he has currently. On Monday, the Nets announced that Johnson suffered a mild left hamstring injury during a workout last week and as a result, he will not be ready to go for the beginning of training camp on Tuesday. Johnson expects to play at some point in the preseason so he shouldn’t be out of action for too long.

Now that Brooklyn fans have seen Mikal Bridges and Johnson take their collective games to the next level, it’s time for even more progress. They will need it. From how Johnson spoke on Monday, he’ll be working hard towards that goal. “I think it’s something that I’ve been able to be better at each year. A couple areas here, a couple areas there and I think I’ve been on that constant climb and I don’t see it stopping.”

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Nets’ Mikal Bridges is ‘very excited’ to get this season started

Brooklyn Nets guard Mikal Bridges said a lot during Media Day on Monday and what he said shows that he’s ready for this season to begin.

NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Mikal Bridges, who is coming into the 2023-24 season as the player that everybody will have their eyes on, has had a busy summer. He played a huge role for Team USA in the 2023 FIBA World Cup and even rated out as the best player on the team despite how dominant Anthony Edwards was.

“I think just playing for USA and having an opportunity is a different feel,” Bridges said when asked at Brooklyn’s Media Day on Monday what representing America in FIBA play was like. Team USA, in large part because of Bridges, was considered one of the few teams in the tournament who had a legitimate shot at winning the gold medal.

Unfortunately, the Americans did not win any of the medals and to Bridges, that was a tough pill to swallow. However, he is putting the World Cup behind him and focusing on this season for the Nets.

“Coming into this year not having three different teams,” Bridges continued in his explanation of what excited him about this season for Brooklyn. “Expectation for us is to win games and like I always say, playoffs for me and then go from there. I don’t see why we shouldn’t make the playoffs at all.”

While most expect Brooklyn to be competing for a spot in the play-in tournament at best, especially now that the Milwaukee Bucks have traded for superstar Damian Lillard, Bridges appears to have the utmost confidence in his team and what it can do. Bridges, one of the optimistic people in the NBA, looks to have taken a leadership role on the Nets and isn’t running away from the responsibility.

“Yeah, it’s been great,” Bridges said when asked about what it’s been like to have head coach Jacque Vaughn put more on Bridges’ plate. Vaughn said previously that he wanted to ask more of Bridges as Brooklyn tries to make it back to the playoffs this season. “Being able to do what I do scoring a ball and passing, facilitating, getting everybody involved. That’s something great for me,” Bridges continued.

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Nets’ Ben Simmons says ‘he’s playing’ during Media Day presser

Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons finally gave the update from his own mouth that he’s healthy and ready to go. Here’s more from his session.

NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons begins this season for the Nets in a condition that he hasn’t been used to in quite some time: being healthy. Simmons essentially confirmed all of the reports that have come out this summer about him fully recovering.

It was evident from his session of Media Day that he is confident and content at the same time. Simmons answered all of the questions that came his way regarding his health which makes sense given how much of his recovery from the nerve impingement in his back has been reported to the public.

All indications are that Simmons will be able to work on something other than rehabbing from a injury for the first time in a long time. Simmons sitting down for Media Day was the first step in a season that should be interesting for Nets fans. Here are some highlights from Simmons’ session:

Brooklyn Nets Media Day starts at 11 AM EDT; updates to follow

Brooklyn Nets Media Day is finally here. The event starts at 11 AM EDT on Monday and you can catch the updates here.

The Brooklyn Nets officially begin the 2023-24 season on Monday with Media Day. Last week, the Nets held a preseason press conference where head coach Jacque Vaughn and general manager Sean Marks answered any questions that the media had for them with regards to this offseason.

One of the major themes from the press conference was that Ben Simmons should be ready to go for training camp. Simmons played just 42 games last season thanks to a combination of injuries to his knees and back, including a nerve impingement in his back that ended his season in March.

By all accounts, Simmons has recovered from the injury. So, it will be interesting to see how he performs in training camp. Also, the media and Nets fans will be able to speak to some of the new players that Brooklyn signed this summer.

You can follow Nets Wire for updates from Media Day and if you want to watch the event live, you can tune in to YES Network starting at 11 AM EDT.

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