Nolan Traore Adds Muscle for Second Nets Season, Eyes Improved Finishing

Nolan Traore has returned for his second season with the Brooklyn Nets noticeably bigger and stronger, a transformation he hopes will address a key weakness from his rookie year: finishing at the rim.

During his first season, Traore was often described as too slight to finish through contact. This offseason, the 20-year-old guard dedicated significant time to weight training, adding approximately 10 pounds of muscle. He reported to training camp weighing a more solid 190 pounds, up from his rookie-year weight of 170.

“My knee is completely fine now, so there’s no concern,” Traore said. “For me, [the offseason] was more the physical aspect. Obviously the shooting, too. I worked a lot on it and I feel good now. Changed a few things, too.

“Offseason was a lot of [time in the] gym. That was the main thing. Focusing on just getting better as a player, watching clips from the playoffs or watching reads. Working on my shot, too.”

Traore missed the summer league while recovering from arthroscopic surgery in June, but he has since focused on his physical conditioning and improving his shooting mechanics.

Last season, Traore's struggles at finishing were statistically evident. Among players who attempted at least 100 layups, his 44.4 percent success rate was the lowest in the league. He believes his added strength will allow him to drive through defenders more effectively and absorb contact better.

“Yeah, for sure. Now instead of going around players like I was doing, maybe I’ll go through them a little bit more, and I’ll be able to absorb contact way more than last year. So of course it’s going to help me,” Traore explained. He added that finishing effectively requires both physical strength and mental approach, noting that being stronger makes the mental aspect easier.

While the Nets drafted Mikel Brown Jr. with the sixth overall pick in the most recent draft, Traore's development remains crucial. He was a high lottery pick himself, taken higher than any other Nets rookie last year except for Egor Dëmin. Head coach Jordi Fernández expressed confidence in Traore's potential.

“I think he’s a good finisher,” Fernández said. “Once again, you guys are judging a rookie going into the NBA, a 19-year-old at the time. He’s 20 now. So I don’t see any problems in his finishing.”