The final third of the 2024-25 NBA regular season has been a riveting watch. Most fans’ eyes are trained on the new look Los Angeles Lakers or the surging Detroit Pistons. However, while the Brooklyn Nets lack the star power of most franchises, they’re arguably just as competitive as those teams. This among the reasons why, despite their front office’s desire to tank, they’re a playoff contender as well.
At 21-36, the Nets are 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. Yet, they’re just 1.5 games out of a spot in the Play-In Tournament. This is even with Brooklyn having 27 different starting lineups in 2024-25 due to trades and injuries. Ranking eighth in opponent’s points per game (110.8), the Nets have a chance to win every night due to their stifling defense. It only helps that Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez is helping little-known players maximize their talent.
To that point, Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin, Trendon Watford, Noah Clowney, Ziaire Williams, Day’Ron Sharpe, and Tosan Evbuomwan are all having career seasons under Fernandez. That’s what makes their decision to sign afterthoughts like Killian Hayes, who has started two games since agreeing to a 10-day contract, and Kendall Brown so intriguing.
Nets To Sign Kendall Brown To Two-Way Contract
A former second-round pick, Brown was signed to a two-way contract on Tuesday, according to HoopsHype insider Michael Scotto.
The Brooklyn Nets have agreed to a two-way deal with Kendall Brown, league sources told @hoopshype. Brown’s averaged 16.4 points on 56.5% from the field and 41% from 3-point range, 5.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals for Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. pic.twitter.com/rWO5AVZhYR
— Michael Scotto (@MikeAScotto) February 25, 2025
An athletic forward, Brown has played in just 21 NBA games since leaving Baylor, all for the Indiana Pacers. In those contests, he holds averages of 1.4 points, 0.5 rebounds, and 0.4 assists per game. In other words, the Minnesota native was glued to the bench. When considering Brown’s skillset and how fond the Pacers are of getting out in the open court, it’s surprising.
Nevertheless, one man’s trash can be another man’s treasure. With Brown averaging 16.4 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.1 assists, and 1.2 steals per game in the G League, that could be what he becomes in Brooklyn. Partly because Fernandez has helped so many players elevate their game, there’s a real chance that he gets his career off the ground.
Interestingly, Hayes was among the Brown’s teammates with the Long Island Nets. With that being said, their pre-established chemistry could help him play real (ie. non-garbage time) minutes. Their injury report could as well, with Clowney out for the foreseeable future.
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