The past couple of games have seen the Brooklyn Nets exhibit many of the same traits that made many in the offseason consider the Nets an average NBA team at best. However, the past few days have also shown what power former greats have on the players of this current generation.
Chris Shearn of YES Network recently posted on X, formerly Twitter, what he learned from his past few days with the Nets before the team left for Paris, France. The point of Shearn’s post was to highlight what former Net Vince Carter taught him about the power of influence and what an impact someone like him can have on the current Nets players.
Carter spoke to guard Mikal Bridges during Friday’s win over the Oklahoma City Thunder and to Dennis Smith Jr. and Dorian Finney-Smith during Sunday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers, appearing to have immediate effects on all three players. Carter’s message to Bridges was about setting the tone as the leader of the team and the Nets proceeded to build a 75-47 lead heading into halftime.
Carter spoke to Smith about using his athleticism against the Trail Blazers and came up with a huge dunk on Portland center Duop Reath. Carter’s conversation with Finney-Smith was about tweaking the follow-through on his jump shot and went 3-of-5 from behind the three-point line against the Trail Blazers.
It always seems to be the case that former players have an impact on current players unlike any other figure that’s in a position to offer guidance due to those shared experiences. It looks like Carter is doing more for the Nets than just analyzing games on a part-time basis for YES.
Three things from my two days with the Nets before Paris. Vince Carter was the analyst both games. After the first quarter against OKC Bridges walked by and VC said you set the tone they’ll follow you. Bridges replied I got you. Against Portland, he talked to Dennis Smith Jr…
— ChrisShearn (@ChrisShearnYES) January 8, 2024
OH
MY
GODDENNIS SMITH JR. POSTER pic.twitter.com/BzRUEcexXN
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 7, 2024
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