SAN DIEGO — With an all-new teaching workers in Brooklyn, Noah Clowney will likely be trying to make an impression, and state his case for taking part in time going ahead.
Accidents will guarantee he will get that likelihood, sooner fairly than later.
The 20-year-old is assured of taking part in important minutes in Tuesday evening’s preseason opener towards the Clippers, and can almost definitely be within the beginning lineup at heart.
“Yeah. Additionally, I really feel like that’s what we’ve been doing in the course of the summer season,” Clowney informed The Publish. “I’ve been working in the course of the summer season. So, I feel they see me in Summer season League, issues like that. You’re clearly all the time open to creating an excellent impression of any likelihood I can.”
Beginning heart Nic Claxton and backup heart 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 mentioned 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 recognize, 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 a fantastic 12 months. He’s been getting higher all summer season.”
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 heart with each Claxton and Sharpe sidelined.
“Yeah, like I mentioned final week, his summer season has been very, excellent. We’re very comfortable [with] the place he’s at proper now,” new coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned. “Clearly he’s going to play minutes in these preseason video games. And he’s combating — like all these guys are combating — for beginning spots, they’re combating for minutes within the rotation. They’re combating for a contract, they’re combating for a two-way.
“So all that battle — all that competitiveness — is essential for us. And that’s what I would like him to do, is hold working. Don’t settle as a child that we anticipate loads from him. And up to now, his angle, his work, all the pieces has been glorious.”
The No. 21 decide within the 2023 NBA Draft, Clowney was up and down from the G League as a rookie.
However he compelled his manner into the rotation down the stretch, averaging 13.5 factors, seven rebounds and a couple of.2 blocks within the closing 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 heart.
The fifth-youngest participant within the league final season, Clowney bought 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 heart 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 steadily gained extra confidence from deep.
He shot 8 of 17 in these final six video games and 39.3 p.c in Summer season 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 sport, honestly,” Clowney shrugged. “Totally different gamers, totally different scout. They’ve bought expertise. However it’s the identical sport, actually.”
Whereas Clowney’s improved capturing will likely be key to him ultimately having the ability to play alongside Claxton, the 20 kilos he’s packed on will likely be key when he stands in at heart, like Tuesday.
Seven-foot, 240-pound Ivica Zubac, who began the Clippers preseason opener, will present a troublesome take a look at.
However acing it might depart an excellent first impression.
