The NBA preseason is all about fine tuning things. The games don’t count in the standings, so there’s less pressure than what you experience during the 82 game trek. That gives you an opportunity to experiment and apply some of the early lessons of training camp in live game settings. A good showing in the preseason can serve as a springboard to a promising regular season. And for the Brooklyn Nets, the preseason debut of one of their youngest players is cause for optimism.
The Nets began their preseason with a 123-88 win over Haopel Jerusalem, an Israeli basketball team. The Nets got quality performances across the board and for a team trying to figure out a new path, high ceiling youngsters take on even more importance. Noah Clowney, who was the third big on the team last year, figures to take on a bigger role in his third professional season.
“It’s a combination of turning 21 and having a great summer,” Jordi Fernandez said after the game. “And we’ve all seen now that he’s not a kid anymore. He looks like a man. He’s strong, and he’s done everything.
Fernandez continues:
“He’s a presence defensively. You know, he is who you want to be. And he’s worked this summer, and right now, this is the result you see. He’s going to sustain it and play a lot of games this season. So I’m excited to see Noah. I’m very, very happy with with his game and what he’s done throughout the summer.”
Throughout the Nets preseason, we’ve seen Clowney become more and more comfortable on the court. In his sophomore year, he saw his three point attempts per game quadruple compared to his first year. In this preseason, his efficiency has taken a big step forward. So far, Clowney is shooting 63.6 percent from three point range in three games. His shot looks a lot more confident and he’s getting to play key minutes with some of the Nets’ best players
Players like Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr will draw a lot of attention from opponents, which will give Clowney room to work with on the perimeter.
Season outlook
2025-2026 is all about development for the Nets. The team won’t be competing for a playoff spot and will look to secure a high draft pick. For Jordi Fernandez, Sean Marks and the Brooklyn brain trust, their job is to find the next Nets that will lead them into the future.
Clowney is hoping to be one of those players. At just 21 years old, he has shown that he is a capable NBA contributor that can play regular rotation minutes. He has room to get even better and a bigger role this season could be key to that. For the Nets, Clowney’s play will be one of the stories to watch. If he can raise his game, the future will be a lot brighter in Brooklyn.