The Brooklyn Nets are just one game into their 2026-27 season, but already, a huge red flag is waving: three of their five 2025 NBA Draft first-round picks, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf, didn’t play a single minute in their season opener. That’s 60% of a draft class the franchise promoted all last season, a class they’re banking on to turn things around after a measly 20 wins in 2025-26.
Game 1 Woes and Invisible Rookies
The Nets dropped their first game of the year, a 110-103 loss to the Charlotte Hornets, and the biggest takeaway wasn’t just the score, it was who *wasn’t* on the court. For a team desperate to shed its rebuilding label and become competitive, having the majority of your heralded draft class glued to the bench in game one is tough. While Egor Demin played 27 minutes and Nolan Traore got 16 minutes, the fact that three others saw zero action is definitely raising eyebrows among fans and pundits. This isn’t just about a single game, it’s about the entire vision for the franchise moving forward.
Coach Fernandez Is Feeling the Pressure (But Staying Calm)
Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez knows the questions are coming. When asked about his rotation and the missing draft picks, he said, “I don’t know. Obviously, nobody has guaranteed minutes. We see some good things, we see some things that we have to be better at.” He’s trying to preach patience, especially with 81 more games to go. “It’s game one. If I change things right now, it will be a sign of you’re freaking out.” But Fernandez also made it clear he’s ready to adjust for the good of the team. “If I feel I have to make changes based on the benefit of the group, I will.” Make no mistake, both Fernandez and general manager Sean Marks are going to be under a microscope on this issue. The Nets have so much riding on their five first-round picks from a year ago. If this trend continues even midway through the season, expect the fanbase to get seriously uneasy.
It’s still super early, just one game in, but the clock is ticking. The Nets need these 2025 draft picks to deliver, and soon, if they want to escape the bottom of the standings. All eyes will be on Fernandez’s rotations in the coming weeks.
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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