Nets' 2025 Draft Class Fails to Inspire in Season-Opening Loss
Key draft picks struggled in the Nets' defeat to the Hornets, raising questions about the team's rebuilding strategy.
The Brooklyn Nets' significant investment in the 2025 NBA draft, particularly the selection of four guards among their five first-round picks, has yet to yield promising results, as evidenced by their season-opening loss to the Charlotte Hornets. The team's top draft selections, including Egor Dëmin and Nolan Traore, had a disappointing performance in the 110-103 defeat, intensifying scrutiny on general manager Sean Marks's strategy.
Of the five players drafted by the Nets in 2025, only Dëmin, chosen eighth overall, and Traore, selected 19th, saw playing time against the Hornets. Drake Powell, Ben Saraf, and Danny Wolf did not play in the opener. The struggles of Dëmin and Traore in this game have cast a shadow over the team's draft haul, which was anticipated to be a cornerstone of their future success.
Head coach Jordi Fernández acknowledged the team's performance, stating that while he is confident in the playmaking and scoring abilities of Dëmin and Traore, their development requires attention. "I’m confident that, especially these two kids, we’re going to have no problem with their playmaking, their scoring and their willingness to get better every day," Fernández said. He added that the team would review game film to help them improve.
Dëmin, who started the game, scored four points and recorded four assists in 27 minutes, shooting 2-for-10 from the floor and 0-for-5 from three-point range. He also committed three turnovers. Traore contributed three points in 16 minutes off the bench, missing all four of his field-goal attempts and committing two turnovers.
"I’m not very happy with how I ended up playing the game,’’ Dëmin said after the game. “I started with two [made] buckets but then kind of just got slower from a standpoint of my intensity, and I’ve definitely got to bring the energy, higher energy.’’
The Nets, who are not intentionally tanking this season, have a mixed roster of veterans like Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. alongside their young prospects. For the team to achieve sustained success, significant improvement from their recent draft picks is crucial. However, the opening night performance suggests a challenging road ahead.
The team faces a difficult stretch of schedule, with six consecutive games against teams expected to contend for the Eastern Conference title, beginning Saturday in Cleveland. This demanding run will test the readiness and development of the Nets' young players.