SAN DIEGO — With an all-new teaching employees in Brooklyn, Noah Clowney will probably be trying to make an impression, and state his case for enjoying time going ahead.
Accidents will guarantee he will get that probability, sooner fairly than later.
The 20-year-old is assured of enjoying vital minutes in Tuesday evening’s preseason opener towards the Clippers, and can most definitely be within the beginning lineup at middle.
“Yeah. Additionally, I really feel like that’s what we’ve been doing throughout the summer time,” Clowney informed The Put up. “I’ve been working throughout the summer time. So, I believe they see me in Summer time League, issues like that. You’re clearly at all times open to creating a very good impression of any probability I can.”
Beginning middle Nic Claxton and backup middle Day’Ron Sharpe are each out for the preseason opener with hamstring points, with no readability on how a lot time Sharpe might miss after not even touring to the California leg of coaching camp.
It has left the door cracked for Clowney.
One supply stated he regarded “nice” in open runs, and he’s been a standout in camp.
“Noah, he’s getting higher, man. He’s getting actual good,” Dorian Finney-Smith gushed of Clowney. “He’s getting actual good. You already know, the sport is slowing down for him. That tends to occur in your second 12 months after you get some bump. He’s capturing the ball much more, and with much more confidence. So, once more, he’s going to have an ideal 12 months. He’s been getting higher all summer time.”
Finney-Smith is the participant who Clowney might vie most with for time at energy ahead this common season.
However within the preseason, he’ll open at middle with each Claxton and Sharpe sidelined.
“Yeah, like I stated final week, his summer time has been very, superb. We’re very comfortable [with] the place he’s at proper now,” new coach Jordi Fernandez stated. “Clearly he’s going to play minutes in these preseason video games. And he’s preventing — like all these guys are preventing — for beginning spots, they’re preventing for minutes within the rotation. They’re preventing for a contract, they’re preventing for a two-way.
“So all that struggle — all that competitiveness — is essential for us. And that’s what I need him to do, is maintain working. Don’t settle as a child that we count on loads from him. And to this point, his angle, his work, all the things has been glorious.”
The No. 21 choose within the 2023 NBA Draft, Clowney was up and down from the G League as a rookie.
However he pressured his means into the rotation down the stretch, averaging 13.5 factors, seven rebounds and a pair of.2 blocks within the last six video games.
The final 4 of these video games had been begins, with Clowney averaging 10.5 factors and 6.5 boards.
He performed alongside Claxton as a stretch-four, however struggled in his lone begin at middle.
The fifth-youngest participant within the league final season, Clowney acquired roughed up bodily in a 107-77 loss to Sacramento on April 7, the place Fernandez had been the lead assistant on the time.
Clowney had simply seven factors and completed minus-26, whereas Kings middle Domantas Sabonis dominated with 18 factors, 20 rebounds, 9 assists and a few blocks.
However the Clowney who’ll begin Tuesday’s preseason opener is stronger, greater and — the Nets hope — higher.
Clowney hit a middling 36.4 p.c from 3-point vary as a rookie, however has progressively gained extra confidence from deep.
He shot 8 of 17 in these final six video games and 39.3 p.c in Summer time League, when he was probably the greatest gamers in Las Vegas.
Now on Tuesday he’ll get one other prolonged take a look at skilled, veteran gamers.
“Identical recreation, honestly,” Clowney shrugged. “Completely different gamers, totally different scout. They’ve acquired expertise. However it’s the identical recreation, truthfully.”
Whereas Clowney’s improved capturing will probably be key to him ultimately having the ability to play alongside Claxton, the 20 kilos he’s packed on will probably be key when he stands in at middle, like Tuesday.
Seven-foot, 240-pound Ivica Zubac, who began the Clippers preseason opener, will present a tricky take a look at.
However acing it might depart a very good first impression.
