The Nets recalled rookie Nolan Traore from their G League affiliate on Long Island Thursday, ending a promising developmental stretch against quality competition.
Fellow rookie Drake Powell also returned to the big club ahead of Friday’s game against the Dallas Mavericks, and with Ben Saraf staying in the G League for more reps, the No. 19 pick may have a clearer path to meaningful minutes at point guard in the coming weeks.
“Yeah, he’s been playing well down in the G, so, happy for him to be back,” Michael Porter Jr. said of Traore. “Obviously a very talented kid, a young guy that can do a lot of things on the court. So, it’s good to have him back.”
Traore’s latest call-up was well earned. He put up 18.8 points and 6.4 assists while shooting 43.1% from 3-point range in 13 G League games, scoring at least 12 in each outing. Over his last five on Long Island, he bumped those numbers to 22.2 points, 7.6 assists and 1.2 steals on 58.3% from the field and 60% from deep. He’s also one of only three G League players averaging at least six assists while shooting 40% from behind the arc, alongside Mac McClung and Steven Ashworth.
The 19-year-old said his leap as a long-range shooter came not from mechanical adjustments but from increased confidence. He explained that his most recent G League stint required him to be more vocal as Long Island’s primary floor general, and the added reps in a larger role helped accelerate his growth.
“I think I progressed in all aspects of the game,” Traore said.
Head coach Jordi Fernández, who was on hand to see Traore post 18 points and eight assists in Long Island’s 115-95 win over the Westchester Knicks on Wednesday, didn’t specify how he’ll use the French guard moving forward. He did say he’s “very happy” with Traore’s development to this point.
“The context is different [with the Nets], but we still want him to play the same way, if that makes sense,” Fernández said. “His superpower is speed. He’s been shooting the ball very well and confidently, which I loved. He’s been trying to be more vocal, that’s what you want your point guards to be… And then the assist-to-turnover [ratio]. I think he struggled a little bit with the turnovers at times and how he reacted to those turnovers, which turnovers will happen, and I don’t care as long as you move on to the next play, and he’s had impressive numbers I assist-to-turnover ratio over his past three, four games, so, very happy with where he’s at.”
With his confidence rising, his decision-making sharpening and a recall that reflects how far he’s come in a short time, Traore knows the next step is handling mistakes the same way he handled the G League: by moving forward and staying aggressive.
“You don’t have to waste time on a bad play, and you just have to keep going and be ready to play the next play,” Traore said. “So, you just have to be focused and get to the next play faster.”
