What we learned from Nets’ first Summer League game



Nets fans got a peek into the future Thursday night at Thomas & Mack Center, as Egor Dëmin, Nolan Traoré, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf made their Summer League debuts.

Drake Powell, the No. 22 overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, suffered a knee injury during the pre-draft process and will sit out Summer League as a precaution.

Drew Timmie, who signed a two-year contract with the Nets in March, led all scorers with 22 points on 10-for-13 shooting in the team’s 90-81 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder, though the spotlight remained on the healthy members of Brooklyn’s historic rookie class.

It was a somewhat quiet evening for Dëmin, the No. 8 pick in last month’s draft, who tallied eight points on 2-for-5 shooting with four rebounds and one steal in 23 minutes. Playing mostly off-ball, the Nets’ rookie struggled in the first half, failing to score, committing two turnovers and picking up two fouls.

However, Dëmin sank two deep 3-pointers in the second half, showcasing sound shooting mechanics. His lack of assists was surprising for a player hailed as one of the draft’s top passers, but those should come as he adjusts to Brooklyn’s system.

“It was a special moment of accomplishing dreams of these little kids that were trying to get here,” Dëmin told reporters in Las Vegas. “It’s a great experience…Some things went how we wanted them to go, some things no. It’s a great time learning.”

Beyond Timmie, Traoré stood out as one of the most impressive Nets player on the court. The No. 19 pick overcame an early ankle roll, finishing with 13 points, three rebounds and three assists in 26 minutes, displaying electrifying speed on drives to the rim. He excelled at drawing contact, converting all six free throw attempts, and got a 3-pointer to fall in the second quarter. The 19-year-old penetrated the paint at will, and it’s clear he’d thrive with better spacing and finishers around him.

Less can be said about the Summer League debuts of Saraf and Wolf, the Nos. 26 and 27 picks. Saraf shot 1-for-5 from the field, while Wolf missed all five of his attempts. However, Wolf was active on the boards, grabbing six rebounds in 20 minutes, and Saraf displayed a tight handle and slick moves off the dribble.

Despite their shooting struggles, the performances of all four rookies hinted at the Nets’ vision for a versatile, dynamic roster.

“This is the way our roster is constructed,” Nets summer league head coach Steve Hetzel said. “The league is now multiple ball-handlers, multiple attackers. If you look at the team that just won the championship, they’ve got Jalen Williams and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who can both put the ball in the paint. We feel like the more people that we can have attacking and making plays, the better we are.”



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