Nets' Dariq Whitehead working to move up in pecking order as he returns from injury
Brooklyn Nets forward Dariq Whitehead shoots during Nets Training Camp at HSS Training Center on Tuesday, Oct. 1, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
PHILADELPHIA — The Nets’ rebuild means more chances for their young players to grow. For Dariq Whitehead, it’s still at a slower pace than his fellow 2023 Nets draftees.
Noah Clowney and Jalen Wilson are among the first reserves off the bench during preseason. Whitehead has been among the last reserves — mostly players on Exhibit 10 or two-way contracts — that check in late in the second half and close games.
Whitehead scored three points in 12 minutes in the Nets’ preseason opener and played the last four minutes in Monday’s win over the Wizards.
“Right now, it’s more so just making sure I’m doing the right things I need to do with the team in order to be able to be out there and help the guys,” Whitehead said Wednesday at shootaround. “I feel like that’s a part of me trusting my body, which is a good thing.”
If anything, this feels more like Whitehead’s true rookie season after he played only two games with the Nets before shin surgery in January. The preseason pecking order suggests he’ll start the season outside the main rotation and could spend some time in the G League.
It’s not ideal for a first-round pick but after two foot surgeries before last year’s draft, it’s the path he has to take. Even if it means playing in the preseason with players who won’t make the opening night roster.
Whitehead is also working to shake past a rough Summer League showing. He shot just 6-for-41 from the field, including 2-for-24 on threes. But the coaches reminded him to focus on the positives, such as playing again and building his stamina.
The offseason proved more encouraging as Whitehead gained confidence in open runs with teammates. Coach Jordi Fernandez and the front office reminded him to have patience and remember the process while finding other ways to contribute besides scoring.
“If you take the right shots, at the end of the day, they’re going to go in,” Fernandez said about Whitehead. “So you have to control the controllables.”
Whitehead is also finding perspective. At times last season, he was frustrated he couldn’t just be the player he was before his foot surgeries.
Now he just wants to play and find his role. On a Nets team loaded with wings, minutes will be hard to come by in both preseason and regular season.
That’s why it’s about maximizing the time and finding small wins. Through two games, he’s 2-for-3 on threes — a smaller sample size than the summer but better accuracy.
It’s a longer road to where his fellow 2023 draftees are yet Whitehead is content being patient, even it means working harder to find a role.
“[Wilson and Clowney] had to do the same thing last year and fight for their minutes. I’m not exempt from that,” Whitehead said. “I got to do the same thing this year and fight for my minutes. They earned their minutes. So, that’s pretty much where I’m at with it now.”
Notes & quotes: Ben Simmons sat out Wednesday’s game as part of pre-planned load management. He’s not injured but Fernandez said the team predetermined that he would play three out of four preseason games . . . Killian Hayes sat out his third game because of a hip injury.
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
