Nets training camp: 3 takeaways heading into preseason opener
Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney looks on during Nets Training Camp at HSS Training Center on Friday, Oct. 4, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
The Nets wrapped up their first week of training camp and headed to San Diego to face the Clippers in their preseason opener on Tuesday.
Here are three takeaways from coach Jordi Fernandez’s first camp.
Conditioning will be key
Few details have been shared on what tweaks Fernandez is bringing to the Nets. One thing most players have said is his emphasis on conditioning.
Most teams say they want to play fast and Fernandez is no different. The Nets are learning, however, how Fernandez is testing and pushing their stamina to be aggressive on both ends of the floor.
“It's been a lot of running, of movement, and a lot of it is a play-style,” Cam Johnson said. “They’re urging us to pick up full-court and really play hard on that end and pressure the ball.”
It takes time for players to get in game shape and that’s what camp is for. For now, the Nets are seeing just how in-shape Fernandez wants them to be.
Noah Clowney added muscle
Clowney showed up at media day with much broader shoulders than last year. He explained why by saying he weighed in Monday at 230 pounds.
For comparison, Clowney weighed 210 during his rookie season. It’s not uncommon for young players to add weight, but it could help Clowney earn more minutes behind Nic Claxton.
Speaking of playing time, don’t be surprised if Clowney plays both center and power forward. Fernandez said Clowney is a multi-positional player with his ability to shoot and protect the rim. Clowney played alongside Claxton at times last season and now that he’s bigger, it could add more intrigue to Fernandez’s lineup combinations.
Free-throw practice contest
Fernandez has added some wrinkles in training camp to keep things fun. For the first week, the Nets had a free throw contest called the “Borough Cup.”
Scores are administered like golf where the fewer points, the better. Dorian Finney-Smith was the first winner and he tried to use it as an argument to shoot more technical free throws this season.
Typically that honor might go to Cam Thomas or Cam Johnson, but Finney-Smith tried to plead his case after winning.
“That's all I keep saying, I'm going to shoot techs,” Finney-Smith said. “So, trying to get that into CJ and Cam’s ears; they get to the free-throw line a lot more than me.”
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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