Brooklyn Nets wade into Jordi Fernández era with training camp underway
A point guard battle, the Cam Thomas question, the forming of an identity. Training camp is here. Brooklyn Nets Media Day was great, as most media days are. We saw low-stakes glimpses of the personalities comprising this roster, with more vibe-checks and reminiscing on off-season vacation spots than basketball.
But it only lasts one day for a reason. HSS Training Center is now booming with basketball. There’s yelling, whistles, swishes, even a leaderboard on the far-end of the court with some sort of free-throw competition the Nets are keeping track of. After two days of practice, Dorian Finney-Smith is, perhaps surprisingly, leading the pack.
“I’m trying to shoot techs this year,” he beamed.
All meaning that the Jordi Fernández era is underway in earnest. During the summer and on media day, players were asked how Fernández differed from other head coaches they’ve had. A few tried their best to answer the question honestly, focusing on how often Fernández preaches “development” and improving “one percent” every day, even if you’re a seemingly finished product like nine-year-veteran like Finney-Smith.
But now, these players will actually get to experience Jordi Fernández, the head coach.
His first major decision will be who starts at point guard, a looming battle between Ben Simmons and Dennis Schröder, who have both expressed excitement to play under a fellow non-American with an international taste for the game, but still have to earn his trust.
“I want to create healthy competition within the group,” says Fernández. “And then from there, make me decide. Do I want to play with one, do I want to play with the other? Or, do I want to play with two point guards? I’m okay either way, and if they don’t meet the expectations, they won’t be the starting point guard.”
Again, I’m just reporting the news here, but players continue to insist Simmons is healthy and playing well through training camp. And yes, we’re still getting the 3-point updates:
Twenty-five seconds of Ben Simmons 3-pointers pic.twitter.com/wKZR047V0U— C.J. Holmes (@HolmesScribe) October 2, 2024
Despite the shirtless swishes, Simmons will not be spacing the floor this year, part of Fernández’s considerations for that spot. Can he really play Simmons next to Nic Claxton? (Yes, again.) Right now, that doesn’t seem to be an automatic ‘no’.
“As far as him playing with Nic, two years ago, I think I said it during the press conference, they worked very good together. Last year they didn’t play enough games. So again, I’m not making up my mind because I know that his playmaking ability, his ability to play fast, how big he is defensively, same with Nic.”
Two years ago, Simmons and Claxton had a couple shot-makers next to them you might have heard have. Fernández knows this of course, but we’re only going to get a straightforward answer when it’s decision-making time.
The same goes for Cam Thomas, now playing under his fourth head coach as he enters his fourth year in the league. Fernández, predictably, has a vision for Thomas, insisting that his “superpower is to score the ball,” while wanting to mold that superpower just a little...
Jordi Fernández on Cam Thomas: "Can I help [him] be more efficient of a scorer? If you look at the numbers, the less he dribbles, the more efficient of a scorer he is ... his superpower is to score the ball, and what we need to do is help him do that in an efficient way."— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) September 26, 2024
In our Media Day recap, Thomas pointed out that he’d love to get more efficient, but also claimed the reason he was over-dribbling (my word) at times last year was because he was handed grenades toward the end of the shot-clock.
Again, a half-truth. Brooklyn’s pitiful offensive structure did Thomas no favors. Opportunity is not synonymous with a positive growth environment, valuable context for his improvements. However, Mr. Thomas ... respectfully ... let’s admit there’s a bit more to Fernández’s outlook here.
“I think numbers are important, but also film,” says the head coach. “Film doesn’t lie, and at the end of the day, what I want is for Cam to be a better player so we can be a better team. That’s pretty simple. It’s not rocket science. You either get better or you get worse.”
True enough. Fernández continued: “We can show numbers, we can show film, we can show numbers with the film, I can sit down with him and walk through stuff. He’s a smart kid, he knows what I need from him. I’m gonna keep sending the same message to him. The reality is I’m gonna challenge him the same way I’m gonna challenge everybody else, because he has to be willing to be a better player. That’s what the NBA is.”
If that quote seems more direct than what you’re used to seeing from head coaches, you have to remember: Fernández is European. Seriously. Austrian Jakob Pöltl caused a mini-firestorm at Raptors Media Day by being 10% too honest...
“I think we all know we’re not going to go and attack the championship this year. It makes no sense for us to try to win every single game as much as we can and sacrifice development.” - Jakob Poeltl on the Raptors ( @ogchabzo ) pic.twitter.com/5WX6FbfRpF— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) September 30, 2024
Some light stereotyping here, but indeed, Fernández matter-of-fact in his speech even with the media. At Tuesday’s practice, the 41-year-old let reporters know he has a 5-10 minute attention span with the media before he taps out.
All of this to say, he’s not sending Thomas subliminals through the media. On the other hand, Thomas has always been slightly defensive about his abilities. He likely has trouble squaring the wild success of his basketball journey to this point with the criticism he receives. Still, his relationship with Fernández seems to be off to a decent start.
“Obviously, I am who I am, but I can do both,” said Thomas, regarding playing both on- and off-ball. “So whenever he needs me to do both, I’m capable. I think that’s the beauty of my game. I can do both. I’m not really one-dimensional.”
While the players are acclimating to Jordi Fernández, Fernández has acclimated to the Brooklyn Nets more than he already knows. There's a question surrounding Ben Simmons’ role on the team. There’s a question of Cam Thomas’ efficiency.
Training camp is just two days old, and there’s a new head coach, but man, we are so back.
Extras
Amari Bailey spoke at practice on Tuesday, and the 20-year-old said this training camp has been “the most fun [he’s] ever had playing basketball,” expounding on the reasons: “The culture. The people running the engine, running the ship. Being able to take leadership, I have great vets, great players, and we’re acting like we have something to prove here.”
Amari Bailey said joining the Nets has been "the most fun he's ever had playing basketball":"I'm at a loss for words... I'm very appreciative of that and the staff and everyone for allowing me to have the opportunity here." pic.twitter.com/QrooUz84FI— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) October 2, 2024
Bailey, on the non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 deal, is unlikely to make Brooklyn’s roster outright. But given that he’d qualify for the open two-way slot if the Nets cut him before Opening Night, he has a chance to stick around this season.
Yongxi “Jacky” Cui is a real New Yorker already. Here’s I am doing some real reporting on Monday night, typo aside...
Brooklyn Net Jacky Cui was wondering the halls of the Barclays Center after the New York Liberty's Game 2 win. Apparently, he wanted to meet Sabrina Ionescu, but she had already left the building :(— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) October 2, 2024
For you Mandarin speakers out there, take a listen to this clip from the Chinese social media site Weibo.
In it, Cui mentioned there was a mugging/robbery right beneath where he lives and he saw a ton on police cars show up at the scene. He also mentioned he thinks subway in China is better. NYC subway is a bit dirty and smells like urine.
Based on some more napkin-level translating, Cui thinks the New York City subway is dirty and smells like urine, preferring China’s public transit. He’s a natural!
What Nets must see from Cam Thomas to prove he belongs in team’s future - Brian Lewis - New York Post
Ex-top picks Ziaire Williams, Killian Hayes eye ‘fresh start’ with Nets - Brian Lewis - New York Post
Nets coach Jordi Fernandez wants Cam Thomas to be a more efficient scorer ($) - Evan Barnes - Newsday
It’s business as usual for Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith and the Nets’ veterans for now ($) - C.J. Holmes - New York Daily News
With a healthy Ben Simmons, the Nets’ starting point guard battle in training camp just got interesting - C.J. Holmes - New York Daily News
Nets’ Cam Thomas not feeling any pressure to prove value during contract season - Erik Slater - Clutch Points
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