Nets rookie guard Ben Saraf suffered a left ankle sprain in the first half of Long Island’s 127-116 loss to the Maine Celtics on Saturday, finishing with seven points, four rebounds and five assists in 16 minutes. Brooklyn announced Monday that he will be reevaluated in 10 days.
Saraf and fellow rookies Nolan Traore and Danny Wolf were recalled from their latest G League assignment on Monday.
The 26th overall pick opened the season as Brooklyn’s starting point guard, averaging 3.2 points, 2.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists over his first five appearances while shooting just 21.7% from the field and 16.7% from 3-point range.
Since then, Saraf has slipped out of the Nets’ rotation, logging minutes in only two games after Nov. 3, both in garbage time. Terance Mann and rookie Egor Demin have taken on the bulk of the playmaking load with Saraf on the bench.
The 19-year-old owns a 133.5 defensive rating in seven games, the lowest on the roster. After logging just two minutes in a 119-109 loss to Toronto on Nov. 11, he didn’t shy away from why. He acknowledged he has a long way to go defensively and knows that’s where his progress must start.
“I think he [Jordi] wants more on the defensive side,” Saraf said. “I think the last two games I had a couple of breakdowns on defense. So, it’s really important for the team. I think this is the main thing.
“I feel like I’m a capable defensive player, I think I just need a little more focus on some possessions.”
In four G League appearances, Saraf is averaging 14.2 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.0 steals while shooting 46.5% from the field and 28.6% from deep. In Long Island’s season opener on Nov. 7, he became the first player in franchise history to score 20 or more points off the bench in his debut.
Even with the ankle injury slowing him down, the Nets remain optimistic about Saraf’s long-term trajectory. Brooklyn drafted him with the belief that his size, tempo control and pick-and-roll feel would eventually translate once the game slows down for him. Team officials and staff members have consistently pointed to his work ethic as a reason not to overreact to early struggles. Those around the team also note that his processing speed and decision-making tend to sharpen with extended reps, something difficult to come by during Brooklyn’s 2-11 start.
Saraf has also earned praise behind the scenes for how he has handled the demotion to Long Island. Coaches say he has embraced the assignments, using them to get live reps he simply cannot get with the big club now. His willingness to play through mistakes, watch film and take coaching has stood out in a season where the franchise is evaluating which young players can help shape the next era.
“He’s taking positive steps,” head coach Jordi Fernández said of Saraf during training camp. “A kid that belongs, as far as like size and physicality and being able to play make for his teammates… He’s going to be a very good shooter. He puts the time in, doesn’t say much, listens to us. For being 19 and a rookie, he behaves like a vet, and that’s what I love about him. That’s why I think that his adjustment to this league, being as young as he is, is just going to keep trending up.”
