Nolan Traore didn’t mince words after his season debut for the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday against the Charlotte Hornets, admitting it was “not my best” game. He’s got a point: the second-year guard played 16 minutes off the bench in Brooklyn’s 110-103 loss, but only managed three points, two rebounds, and a brutal -13 in plus/minus. That’s a rough start, no two ways about it.
Rough Debut, Tough Pill to Swallow
Look, we all know a debut can be shaky, but this was a noticeable struggle. Traore, who head coach Jordi Fernandez still gave significant minutes to,one of nine guys to see more than 16 minutes on the court,looked out of sorts for most of his time. He was meant to be one of the point guards in the rotation, showcasing growth from his rookie season, but Wednesday wasn’t the night. He even said it himself after Friday’s practice: “I think I didn’t play my best. That wasn’t the best game I did, for sure.” You gotta appreciate the honesty, but it doesn’t make the box score any prettier for Nets fans.
“It’ll Be All Right” Says Traore, But Is It?
Despite the stumble, Traore isn’t hitting the panic button, stating, “I think I have to bring more pace to the game. That’s my strength so I got to use it more. But, it’ll be all right.” That confidence is key, especially early in the season. We’ve heard forward Michael Porter Jr. talk up Traore’s speed, even during training camp: “Nolan’s one of the fastest players in the league so we’re able to run up and down. A big emphasis is getting shots up in the first six seconds. So, if we can run the ball, find guys on the wings, shoot threes, get downhill, I think that’ll make us a tough team to guard.” That’s the player we’re looking for, not the one who hit the court against Charlotte. The Nets are still looking for their first win of the year, so every player’s performance matters right now.
The team knows they need to sharpen up too. Traore noted, “I think we have to be focused on the details. We didn’t show our best last time.” They’ll need to lock in because their next game is against Cleveland. Traore is pumped, saying he’s “excited for the next game” because Cleveland is “really physical, and we have to be way more physical.” Let’s see if that physicality and Traore’s vaunted pace can get the Nets rolling and erase the memory of this season opener.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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