Noah Clowney Makes Case for Nets Minutes Amidst Competition
Despite losing his starting power forward role, Clowney has impressed in preseason play, aiming for a consistent rotation spot.
Noah Clowney is vying for regular minutes with the Brooklyn Nets, demonstrating consistent performance in preseason games amid a crowded forward competition. Despite starting 60 games last season, Clowney is set to lose his power forward position to Julius Randle. However, he has responded with strong showings, aiming to secure a place in the rotation.
In a recent preseason victory against the Sixers, Clowney scored 11 points on 3-of-4 shooting, including 2-of-3 from three-point range, and finished with a plus-12 rating. He followed this with a 15-point performance in another preseason win, shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 4-of-6 from beyond the arc. Clowney also contributed four assists and a steal without committing any turnovers in that game.
"He's been consistent so far. The whole training camp, the whole, all these preseason games. Very proud of him," coach Jordi Fernández said. "You see him with 15 points. [We] challenge him. We’re challenging him to rebound. But yet four assists to zero turnovers, that’s pretty impressive. He’s just been very good — not too high, not too low. He’s always ready. And that’s the Noah Clowney that we need, because we know that he makes a lot of winning plays."
Clowney is eligible for a rookie scale extension, with the deadline approaching on Oct. 19. Brooklyn is not expected to offer an extension, which would make Clowney a restricted free agent next summer.
Meanwhile, rookie Mikel Brown Jr. is expected to make his preseason debut against the Miami Heat after an ankle injury sidelined him for three weeks. Brown participated in full practice and 5-on-5 drills, and he anticipates having family and friends in attendance. He played in only 19 games as a freshman at Louisville due to a back injury. Brown will be on a minutes restriction against the Heat, but he is expected to be ready for the regular-season opener on Oct. 21.
Other players competing for roster spots include Josh Minott, who recently signed a two-year extension, and Danny Wolf. Minott played limited minutes in a recent game, as did Wolf. The Nets will debut a dedicated court for their Opening Night game, featuring over 575 names representing every player who has officially appeared for the team. The Nets conclude their preseason schedule on Wednesday in Miami.