After falling out of postseason contention, the Brooklyn Nets have started to call up players from the end of the bench, seeing what they can provide moving forward. It’s a customary practice, especially for teams in a rebuilding (or retooling) year, like the Nets. It’s not always a fruitful experiment but, this time, it has been.
Nets View Noah Clowney as Key Piece Moving Forward
19-year-old forward Noah Clowney has scored as many points in his last two games (39) as he did in the previous 15 games.
Averaging 19.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks per game while shooting 81.3 percent from the field and 71.4 percent from 3, he’s clearly on a hot streak. However, his production tracks with what he’s been able to do with their G League affiliate. In 19 games, Clowney has averaged 17.5 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, shooting 50.0 percent from the field and 33.9 percent from 3.
Clowney’s strengths at 6-foot-10 and 210 pounds have led to the Nets viewing him as a positionless piece of their puzzle.
“He’s position-less, and we want him to play like that,” interim head coach Kevin Ollie says, per the New York Post’s Brian Lewis.
“He’s sticking one-through-five. I got some clips of him sticking, going over the pick-and-roll and blocking [Jordan] Poole, and switching out onto big men, got a charge [the other day]. I mean, he’s done all of those small things, and when he got comfortable shooting his three-point shot, look out. He’s going to open up all of our offense.”
Given Clowney’s mentality and Ollie’s desire for hunters, his intangibles may be nearly as appealing as his skillset.
After notching 22 points and 10 assists against the Indiana Pacers last Wednesday, Clowney said: “I always say, ‘they bleed the same blood, they put their shorts on just like I do.’”
“Yeah, [the Pacers] are a good team, but I’ve got to play with the same confidence I play with in the G [League] that I do here. I don’t want to start playing shy, and then I’m playing bad, tripping over mistakes. Just play confident.”
Overperforming When Given Opportunity
Clowney was drafted 21st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Alabama. A one-and-done for the Crimson Tide, Clowney averaged 9.8 points (on 48.6 percent shooting from the field), 7.8 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game on his way to earning All-SEC Freshman honors. A top-75 high school recruit, Clowney arguably overperformed in his freshman season. However, there were still clear areas for improvement, namely his streaky outside shooting and limited scoring impact off-the-dribble.
Clowney still needs to work on his game. That’s to be expected with his youth and inexperience. Nonetheless, he’s taking advantage of the opportunity in front of him.
Making the Nets consider a larger and long-term role for him is a testament to his talent, potential, work ethic, and mental fortitude.
