There’s not much to expect out of the Brooklyn Nets for the 2025-2026 season. The Nets grabbed a plethora of picks in the 2025 NBA Draft and completely rehauled their roster. They also picked up a couple of role players and veterans to help build up a potential young core. Nets Nation shouldn’t expect playoff aspirations anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean the team is completely unwatchable. The uncertainty of the Brooklyn Nets’ future will be an intriguing watch and could pan out to be something special amongst their growing pains throughout this season.
The Rookies
The X-factor within the Brooklyn Nets’ roster is their first-round pick, Egor Demin. Demin was out with a foot injury throughout the offseason, but showed promise after his first NBA preseason game against the Toronto Raptors on Friday. Demin posted 14 points on three of five from the field, with two of those field goals coming from deep. He also had an assist and a block. Fortunately, his injury won’t keep him out for long, and teammate Michael Porter Jr. had high praise for the rookie.
“He makes the right reads and the right plays. So I know it may take time to deal with the physicality of the point guard position in the NBA, but once he gets the hang of it, he’s going to be really, really good.”
It’s hard to predict how the rest of the rookies will pan out, but some of them exceeded initial expectations, such as Drake Powell. Powell was selected for his defense and athleticism, with little expectation for his offensive output. He managed to play well in the preseason, posting up three for six from deep, but will be playing in the G-League to expand his ability to play more minutes at a high level.
The Nets’ rookies will not have many expectations, and fans should see it as a good thing. Nolan Traore and Ben Sarah are 6-foot-6 guards who already have professional playing time. Their experience will help them in the NBA, and their length could be advantageous to them in the future. The amount of raw talent in these Nets’ rookies could prove exciting for Nets’ fans, but they must be patient to see how they grow and if they can develop quickly into something special.
What To REALLY Expect
The Nets traded away a significant portion of their potential core, including Cam Johnson, for draft picks, along with Dennis Schroder, early last season, despite Schroder’s role in leading the team to several wins early on. There are a lot of unknowns for the Nets, giving both optimism and fear. Head coach Jordi Fernandez outdid the expectations for the Nets, going 9-10 early in the season and having a decent record. The Nets could not tank themselves into a top-three pick, but managed to land pick number eight to begin the first of their five picks. Players raved about the freedom of play they had while under the wing of Fernandez, so fans should expect some experimentation with the team’s approach to their play.
The Nets are a team with no expectations this season, which means the pressure is off for them. Expect the rookies to experience some growing pains, but also to show flashes of potential that could develop into something great if they live up to it. Cam Thomas recently re-signed with the Nets and could be a borderline All-Star this upcoming season as he becomes the Nets’ primary scorer. Recent acquisitions such as Michael Porter Jr. and Terance Mann can bring some depth to the team and create an environment for growth for the potential young core. Defense will likely be the primary emphasis, and expect much of the scoring to come from Thomas and Porter Jr. throughout the season. This is an exciting, but cautious season to watch and see what this new core may have to offer, but it won’t be without some tough losses and lessons for the young guys. A championship won’t come to the city of Brooklyn anytime soon, but this season may plant the seeds for something special later down the line.
What’s Next For The Nets?
Nets Nation may have to be highly patient within the next couple of years. They should not expect this core to fully blossom immediately; instead, they need to see what they are capable of. Fernandez has the potential to bring something out of this newly formed squad, but definitely expect a similar record to last year. If all goes well, the Nets may not look good in terms of placement at the bottom of the standings, but their level of play and heart could show promise for their future. The Nets could also play themselves into a top-three pick for the 2026 draft, where they have the opportunity to add to their young core and potentially their future all-star player.
