Third time the charm for David Duke Jr. and Nets?

LAS VEGAS — Most players don’t return to the NBA Summer League after their second season, except to watch courtside. For David Duke Jr., however, he’s back eyeing a job.

Duke is the rare player in his third Summer League. After not getting a qualifying offer with the Nets, he was back in Las Vegas auditioning and hoping to show what he’s gained from two NBA seasons.

He was surprised that the Nets didn’t extend him, but he also took it well to focus on improving elements of his game.

“Things don’t always happen as you really expect it. So yeah, you can say that I was expecting it,” Duke said about not getting the offer. “But I always know that my whole career, there’s been things thrown at me that I didn’t expect. So it’s not really something that shook me or anything like that.”

Much of the attention at Summer League is devoted to rookies getting their first taste of pro ball. No. 1 overall pick Victor Wembanyama’s first two games helped draw sellout crowds along with fellow top-three picks Brandon Miller and Scoot Henderson.

Yet most rosters are filled with players like Duke trying to extend their careers.

In the past two seasons, Duke has played in 45 games while on two-way contracts.

As a third-year player, this is his last year to be eligible for a two-way deal. But ahead of the Nets playing Sunday, he was more concerned about showing his improved defense and shotmaking than his future.

“I’m always optimistic about that, but I try not to focus too much on that,” said Duke, who leads the Nets in scoring (17.5 points) and steals (2.5). “I think if I take care of the stuff on the court, everything will fall into place.”

It’s the same attitude teammate Kennedy Chandler has. The former Tennessee point guard spent his rookie season with the Grizzlies but was waived in April before the playoffs.

Now he’s hoping for a second chance with the Nets.

Chandler has shown potential with his speed and ability to finish at the rim. But as Nets Summer League coach Trevor Hendry noted, there’s still work to do on his shooting.

Chandler shot 6-for-22 in the Nets’ 99-94 overtime win over the Raptors on Thursday and is shooting just 37% from the field in four games He’s found other ways to contribute by averaging 5.5 rebounds and a team-high 5.0 assists.

“My main thing is not looking like I’m supposed to be here, don’t look like a rookie again,” said Chandler, who’s averaging 14.8 points. “Look like this is supposed to be my second year in the league. And I feel with what I’ve been doing, I’ve been consistent. So just keep trying to be consistent every single game.”

The Nets have 14 of their 15 main roster spots filled. They also have just one two-way spot remaining after signing second-round pick Jalen Wilson.

Duke also is eyeing that spot, or perhaps a full roster spot elsewhere. It’s an advantage that the Nets know his game, but they also know his limitations.

Still, all he can do is control what’s in front of him. After waiting the last two summers before the Nets called him, he’s just trusting that opportunity will come again.

“I’m in this position and I know there’s a greater plan for me. I just have a different route,” Duke said. “I’m just going to ride the wave for right now and make the best out of it.''

Source: Nets, Bazley agree. The Nets stayed active in free agency Friday as they reached an agreement to sign forward Darius Bazley to a one-year contract, a league source confirmed to Newsday. Bazley played 43 games last season with the Thunder and Suns. The Thunder drafted him 23rd overall in 2019 after acquiring the pick in a draft-day trade. The 6-8 Bazley started all 55 games he played in his second season and averaged 13.7 points and 6.3 rebounds. He started 53 of 69 games in 2021-22 before missing the end of the season with a right knee injury.

For his career, Bazley has averaged 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds.

By Evan Barnes

evan.barnes@newsday.comevan_b

Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.