The Brooklyn Nets fell 120-116 to the Atlanta Hawks in their season opener at State Farm Arena. While the result wasn’t ideal, the game offered a glimpse of what fans can expect during the team’s rebuilding phase and provided reasons for optimism.
Head coach Fernandez pointed out the team’s physicality and determination, saying, “We’ve been talking about Brooklyn grit, right? You saw it with 32 fouls. The only thing is, we need to be smarter and improve our technique. They shot 21 more free throws than us.”
Cam Thomas shined as Brooklyn’s primary offensive option. The 22-year-old overcame a slow start to finish with 36 points, shooting 14-of-27 from the field and 7-of-13 from three. He scored 20 points in the fourth quarter, nearly leading a late comeback. “He just stayed the course and didn’t get frustrated,” Fernandez said. “He knew the shots would fall.”
Brooklyn’s young core also impressed. Jalen Wilson contributed 16 points, going 2-of-5 from three and hitting all eight of his free throws. Ziaire Williams continued to demonstrate his defensive potential while knocking down two of three from deep.
However, there were some struggles. Veteran Nic Claxton was ejected in the fourth quarter after a cheap shot on Dyson Daniels, continuing his pattern of late-game missteps. “I need to have more situational awareness. I can’t keep getting kicked out of games,” Claxton admitted.
Veteran guards Ben Simmons and Dennis Schroder also underperformed. Simmons, playing his first regular season game in over seven months, disappeared in the second half, posting zero points and four turnovers. Simmons acknowledged the physicality caught up with him, saying, “I was a little gassed, but I need to keep attacking.” Meanwhile, Schroder added 13 points and seven assists but turned the ball over five times and shot just 5-of-16 from the field.
Despite these issues, the Nets’ focus on youth development and establishing a new culture remains clear. Fernandez emphasized that building a tough, connected team is a priority: “That Brooklyn grit is going to show in different ways—being physical and supporting each other. It will take time to establish this identity, but these guys are doing the right things.”
As Brooklyn continues to rebuild and aims for a high draft pick, fans have reason to feel encouraged by the early signs of progress.
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