Jordi Fernandez

Nets Notes: Williams, Giannis, Fernandez, Timme

April 3rd, 2025 at 7:17pm CST by Luke Adams

After spending three years in Memphis, Ziaire Williams was traded to Brooklyn last summer in part because he hadn’t improved as a shooter, having converted just 30.1% of his three-point attempts through his first 150 regular season games, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post (subscription required).

But the Nets wing has made some progress in that department this season — since returning from a month-long injury absence at the start of January, Williams has knocked down 35.7% of 227 total attempts from beyond the arc (5.8 per game).

“When you see the fruits of your labor paying off, it always does help and feels a little good. So, just trying to trust my work,” Williams said. “Really just rhythm. Rhythm and just staying on track, shooting straight line drive every time. But the main thing is shooting the same shot, not really focus on the result and not worrying about feet and legs and arms, just focusing … and shooting the same. That’s really about it.”

Defense has never been an issue for Williams, whose length and versatility make him an asset on that end of the court. So if teams view his increased three-point shooting percentage as sustainable, it would bode well for him when he reaches the free agent market this summer, Lewis observes.

“I mean, I’d be lying if I told you the thought wasn’t there,” Williams acknowledged. “But it’s not something I really trip over. I try not to just (focus on it). I try just to play winning basketball, man: shoot when I’m open, pass when it needs to be passed. I just play my hardest, man. I know my agent and my representatives — and more importantly God — they’ll take care of all of that. So, I’m just enjoying the (game), just being in the moment, being where my feet are. And then, when that time comes, then I’ll get a little bit more happy about it.”

We have more on the Nets:

Within a preview of Brooklyn’s potential offseason roster decision, Lewis reiterates in another subscriber-only New York Post article that acquiring Giannis Antetokounmpo continues to be “Plan A” for the Nets. This is hardly the first time Lewis has reported the Nets’ interest in the Bucks star, which has been confirmed by other outlets, but the idea of Brooklyn acquiring Antetokounmpo from Milwaukee doesn’t appear any more viable now than it did then — perhaps that will change if the Bucks are once again eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
After reacquiring control of their 2025 first-round pick last offseason and then trading away Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith early in the season, the Nets appeared primed to tank hard. However, the year hasn’t exactly played out that way. Lewis of the New York Post and Net Income of Nets Daily take a look at how Nets players and head coach Jordi Fernandez have resisted tanking all season long and appear likely to end up in the middle of the pack in the draft lottery standings.
Fernandez recently spoke to Brandon Robinson of ScoopB.com about how his PhD in sports psychology influences his approach to coaching and the role that mental health plays in a team’s success.
It took Drew Timme until near the end of his second professional season to get a look at the NBA level, but he’s making the most of his opportunity, averaging 13.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game in his first three outings as a Net and impressing his veteran teammates in the process, according to Lewis (subscription required). “A young guy who knows how to play, I think you stick in this league, as simple as that,” Nets guard D’Angelo Russell said of Timme. “He knows how to play basketball.”
In case you missed it, the Nets issued a series of injury updates on Wednesday, including announcing that Noah Clowney‘s season is over due to a right ankle sprain.

Scotto’s Latest: Dunleavy, Butler, Looney, Post, Finney-Smith

March 14th, 2025 at 1:06pm CST by Arthur Hill

Warriors general manager Mike Dunleavy Jr. delivered a strong message to his team after completing a trade for Jimmy Butler at last month’s deadline, according to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype. The complex five-team deal finally gave Golden State the additional star that Dunleavy had been seeking since last summer.

“I told them, ‘It’s time to win,’” Dunleavy said. “Whatever happened this season thus far where we’ve had some tough losses and our record isn’t what it needs to be. This signals it’s time to win, no f—ing around. We’ll see where we can get to.”

The Warriors have responded just as Dunleavy had hoped, going 13-1 when Butler has played and rising into the top six in the West. Since February 8, the team has the NBA’s third-best defensive rating at 108.7 and the third-best offensive rating at 121.5.

Dunleavy told Scotto that being a former teammate of Butler in Chicago gave him a “level of comfort” to make the deal and sign Butler to a two-year, $111MM extension.

“I think there’s a talent level that he brings that we needed at the top of the roster,” Dunleavy said. “There’s also a presence, a competitiveness, and an IQ. We need all those things on the court and in big moments. I think it raises the level of all of our players. Not only our role players but also (Stephen Curry) and Draymond (Green) to know they’ve got another guy with them that they can look around and feel like, ‘All right, we’ve got a chance.'”

There’s more from Scotto:

Veteran center Kevon Looney talked to Scotto about Butler’s effects on the Warriors and his own upcoming free agency. Looney has been with Golden State since he was drafted in 2015, but his playing time has declined over the last two seasons. He was mentioned in trade rumors before the deadline, and his future is uncertain as his contract gets ready to expire. “I’m focused on this season right now,” Looney said. “You never know what’s going to happen in a short period of time. I’m hoping I can stay healthy, have a great end of the season and playoffs, and then see whatever happens. You always try to be where you’re at, but things change. Free agency is always crazy, so whatever happens, happens.”
Quinten Post has been a surprise success story for the Warriors, earning a standard contract after starting the season in the G League. The rookie big man told Scotto he considers the contract to be validation for the work he did at the G League level. “I give myself credit from the moment I found out I was going to Santa Cruz. I put my head down and completely focused on that,” Post said. “I wasn’t even thinking about the Warriors. I was focused on winning our games in the G League and playing better basketball with my teammates there. I was locked in. I was going to win the G League. That was our plan. We were on a streak there. Then, all of a sudden, I got a call-up, and then I was here. The fact that I got converted, I felt was because I did the right things, and I got rewarded for it.”
Lakers forward Dorian Finney-Smith said his brief time playing for Jordi Fernandez gave him confidence that the first-year head coach will be able to turn the Nets into winners. He also talked to Scotto about the decision he faces on a $15.4MM player option for next season, which could determine his future in L.A. “You see what just happened with Luka (Doncic)? So, you’ve got to make sure you take care of yourself first,” Finney-Smith said. “We need to finish the season strong. If we win, everybody eats.”

Atlantic Notes: Shamet, Nurse, Tatum, Fernandez

March 13th, 2025 at 9:32am CST by Dana Gauruder

Landry Shamet dislocated his shoulder during the preseason and could have opted for season-ending surgery. The Knicks guard instead chose to rehab the injury and so far, that decision is paying dividends, Stefan Bondy of the New York Post writes.

Shamet was waived in October, then re-signed with the club in December. The veteran guard is currently getting steady minutes due to injuries and scored a season-high 13 points against Sacramento on Monday.

“Yeah, knock on wood. I’m in a good spot,” Shamet said. “I attacked the rehab, took it very seriously. Frankly, that’s not much of a thought I have. I feel good, I’m in a good spot.”

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

Sixers head coach Nick Nurse came to dread reports from his medical staff as the team’s once-promising season disintegrated, he told Michael Grange of Sportsnet. “It was really, really difficult at times,” Nurse said. “What made it most difficult is when you’d actually go on a run and think you’re making some progress, and then you get hit again (with another injury). I remember having one really good win, I can’t remember who it was against, and after the game — I always get a report from the medical team — and he came in and I was like, ‘Please just let me get to the next game, we just played really good.’ And he’s like, ‘Uh, I don’t know what to tell you.’ You kept thinking you were going to get these guys back… and guys kept going down.”
In the Celtics‘ six-point loss to the Thunder on Wednesday, Oklahoma City shot 35 free throws while the Celtics only had 12 attempts. “Yeah, it’s tough,” Jayson Tatum said Brian Robb of MassLive.com. “You’re not going to keep them off the line. They’re very intentional about that, and they have been all season. You’re not going to be the first team where they shoot five free throws or something crazy like that. But there is a balance between that and 35 free throws. Granted, some of them were fouls. Some of them we’ve got to be better at. But I’m not saying that’s why we lost or that’s the ref’s fault or anything like that. That’s how it’s going to be in the playoffs.”
Nets first-year head coach Jordi Fernandez is drawing high praise from opposing coaches as well as his current and former players. Lucas Kaplan of NetsDaily.com examines why Fernandez has made such a strong impression.

And-Ones: Fernandez, Kerr, NBA Europe, Rising Stars, Shumate

February 6th, 2025 at 8:42am CST by Dana Gauruder

Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez is stepping down from his post as head coach of the Canadian senior men’s national basketball team, Sportsnet’s Michael Grange reports.

Fernandez replaced Sixers coach Nick Nurse as Canada’s head coach in 2023 and led the team to a bronze medal in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Canada was knocked out of the Paris Olympic tournament in the quarterfinals.

Fernandez had indicated as recently as last month that he planned to remain Canada’s head coach. When asked about his status, Fernandez replied, “In fairness to Canada Basketball, I want them to make the announcement. And then once they do, I’ll be able to answer all your questions.”

Canada Basketball confirmed the news on Thursday morning, announcing that Fernandez is stepping away to focus on his job with the Nets and to spend more time with his family.

We have more from the around the international basketball world:

With the Warriors finalizing a trade for Jimmy Butler on Wednesday, they had to deal with the consequences as they prepared to face Utah. Coach Steve Kerr had to scrap his gameplan, since Andrew Wiggins and Dennis Schröder are part of the multi-team trade. Kerr suggested that the trade deadline should be pushed to the All-Star break, so that type of uneasy situation might not occur. “I think the league should consider making the trade deadline at the All-Star break just so you don’t have to face these games where guys are getting traded half an hour before a game and you’re trying to process the emotions and trying to win a game,” Kerr said, per Tim Reynolds of The Associated Press. “I don’t know if it’s possible.” It should be noted the trade deadline used to occur during the All-Star break and sometimes overshadowed the All-Star festivities, plus trades can happen any time before the deadline.
The NBA plans to create a new league in Europe would have to overcome major obstacles and The Athletic’s Joe Vardon details one of them. Paris, one of the prime spots for an NBA Europe team, might be off-limits because Paris Basketball has exclusive rights for play in both of the major arenas in the city.
Tim Hardaway Sr., Jeremy Lin, Chris Mullin and Mitch Richmond were named the honorary coaches for the All-Star Rising Stars event, the NBA announced (Twitter link). The quartet all played for the host Warriors. Hardaway, Mullin, and Richmond drafted their seven-player teams for the competition, while Lin will coach a group of G League standouts. The rosters can be found here. The winner of the Rising Stars event on Feb. 14 will compete in a four-team tournament against the NBA All-Star teams two days later.
Former Suns player John Shumate passed away this week at the age of 72, John Gambadoro of 98.7 Phoenix tweets. He was the No. 4 overall pick in the 1974 draft by Phoenix and worked for the Suns organization for 25 years.

Nets Notes: Wilson, Sharpe, Watford

January 29th, 2025 at 7:15pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Nets forward Jalen Wilson has been making the most of his opportunity as a starter while Cameron Johnson rehabs a right ankle injury. His play in an expanded role suggests he could be a real piece for Brooklyn moving forward, opines Andrew Crane of The New York Post.

“What he does is something that every team can utilize,” veteran point guard D’Angelo Russell raved. “I mean, he’s a young player, but you ask the majority of the teams in the league would they want him, I’m sure they would… He’s just scratching the surface of what he’s capable of doing.”

As Crane notes, Wilson’s recent tenure as a starter could become a longer-term gig, depending on Johnson’s fate after the February 6 trade deadline.

In his three games as a starter, the Kansas product is averaging 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.3 steals a night.

There’s more out of Brooklyn:

Following a two-month injury absence at the start of the 2024/25 season, Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe is staying healthy and contributing in a big way, writes Bridget Reilly of The New York Post. He’s averaging 7.8 points and 6.3 boards across his 25 healthy games so far this season. This past month, those numbers have improved to 8.9 points and 7.1 rebounds, in line with his elevated bench minutes. “I feel like when I first got back, I was in a hurry,” Sharpe said. “Just trying to go too fast. Not paying attention. Not really focused. I was just trying to play hard so I could play the right way. But I feel like the month of January I’ve been getting my rhythm back. So, just pacing myself and perimeter [defense]. Being able to slide, switch. I feel like I’ve been working on that a lot. I’ve got a ways to go though.” Sharpe will be eligible for restricted free agency at season’s end.
Another young Nets frontcourt piece, forward Trendon Watford, is preparing to return to the hardwood for the first time since December 16. He has been recovering from a hamstring injury. Brooklyn head coach Jordi Fernandez spoke on Wednesday about Watford’s anticipated comeback, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post (Twitter link). “He’ll be on some sort of minute restriction, but it’s great to have him back,” Fernandez said. “It’s like new energy. He’s done a great job getting himself back… It’s good. I’m happy for him and he deserves it and he’ll play tonight.”
In case you missed it, the Nets are considered a potential suitor for Kings All-Star point guard De’Aaron Fox, but also continue to hope for a chance to acquire Bucks superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is considered their “white whale.”

Nuggets Notes: Jokic, Westbrook, Gordon, MPJ, Fernandez

January 12th, 2025 at 10:00am CST by Luke Adams

Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and point guard Russell Westbrook recorded triple-doubles in the same game on Friday for the second time this season, leading the team to a victory over the shorthanded Nets.

As Bennett Durando of The Denver Post writes, the duo made NBA history by become the first pair of teammates to have 25-point triple-doubles in the same regular season game. Jokic put up 35 points, 15 assists, and 12 rebounds, while Westbrook contributed 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists.

“(Jokic) does a hell of a job making the game easy for everyone,” Westbrook said. “And since I’ve been here, I’ve been trying to do the same thing and find ways to be able to make the game easy for him and other guys. When we’re both doing that, our team is really good.”

Denver is 10-5 this season when Jokic registers a triple-double and 3-0 when Westbrook does so.

Here’s more on the Nuggets:

Westbrook has been an ideal fit so far in Denver, according to Tony Jones of The Athletic, who suggests that both the point guard and the team are benefiting from the arrangement — the Nuggets got a veteran leader who can take some pressure off of Jokic with his ball-handling and play-making, while Westbrook got a chance to play more like himself under a coach who believes in him. “I told him that I wanted him to challenge himself to be the best version of himself,” head coach Michael Malone said. “No offense to any of his past coaches, but if you put Russell Westbrook in the corner, you’re not getting the whole package. We’ve made an effort to get the ball into his hands quite a bit this season.”
Nuggets forward Aaron Gordon appears to be on the verge of returning from the calf strain he aggravated on Christmas Day. After being upgraded to doubtful for Friday’s game, Gordon has been listed as questionable to suit up on Sunday afternoon in Dallas.
Nuggets forward Michael Porter Jr. is having arguably the best season of his career, with averages of 19.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game on .521/.415/.708 shooting through 37 contests (34.5 MPG). With that in mind, Durando explores in a Denver Post story (subscription required) whether trading Porter would help or hurt the club’s roster. The 26-year-old, who is earning $35.9MM this season, is considered Denver’s most logical trade chip if the team makes a bigger in-season deal, since the other Nuggets with eight-figure cap hits – Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Gordon – aren’t going anywhere.
Friday’s game between the Nets and Nuggets was the first time that former Nuggets assistant Jordi Fernandez returned to Denver to face his old team as a head coach. As Durando details for The Denver Post, Fernandez said that every year he spent with the Nuggets helped prepare him for his current position with Brooklyn, and his former players are happy to see him succeeding in his new role. “I think he’s doing a good job. I think guys are listening. Guys are playing hard for him,” Jokic said. “I think that’s really important for a coach. … They are trying to do the right thing. They are trying to do what he is probably telling them. So they have some kind of system, and it’s really cool to see. They’re in the beginning of the process, of course. Hopefully, they can grow.”

Nets Notes: Kings Trade Talks, C. Johson, Thomas, Sharpe, K. Johnson

January 8th, 2025 at 5:16pm CST by Arthur Hill

Jordi Fernandez‘s experience in Sacramento makes him a valuable resource for Nets general manager Sean Marks as he engages in trade talks with the Kings, Brian Lewis of The New York Post writes in a subscriber-only piece. While the topics might include the future availability of De’Aaron Fox, the more immediate concern is Sacramento’s interest in Cameron Johnson, Lewis adds. The Post reported last summer that the Kings topped the list of teams hoping to acquire Johnson, and his trade value has only increased in the midst of a career-best season.

Brooklyn is believed to be asking for the equivalent of two first-round picks in exchange for Johnson. Lewis suggests that Sacramento could meet that price by offering rookie guard Devin Carter, along with a future first-rounder and other players to match salaries. That’s where input could be valuable from Fernandez, who spent two years as an assistant with the Kings before the Nets hired him as their head coach during the offseason, along with assistant coaches Deividas Dulkys and Dutch Gaitley, who also left Sacramento for Brooklyn.

“I look at the coaching staff and the front office — that relationship and that dynamic — as a partnership,” Marks said. “It’s not something where I’m telling you what to do and you go and do it, or vice versa. This is something that I should rely on them, because at the end of the day their experiences and their interactions with players — whether it’s from other teams or just being on the court — they’re up close. I’m not in the foxhole down on the court with them.

“So it would behoove me to talk to them and rely on their input. And I think, one, it’s being honest right off the get-go at the start of the season. And even before that when Jordi signed up. I mean, Jordi and I had heart-to-hearts of ‘hey, look, we’re going to build this and this is how we’re going to build it. We want to be a partnership together on this.’ So he’s been nothing but fantastic in that realm.”

There’s more from Brooklyn:

In the same story, Cam Thomas talks to Lewis about the frustration of dealing with another strain of his left hamstring two games after returning from the first one. Thomas is guaranteed another long absence, as he won’t be reevaluated until January 19 when the Nets return from an upcoming six-game road trip. “Me dealing with what I’m dealing with is tough,” he said. “But we’ve still got enough guys in here to play; we’ve got to go out there and keep playing. I’m gonna keep fighting through, keep fighting through it. I’m going to just keep going.”
Day’Ron Sharpe posted season highs with 16 points and 13 rebounds in 22 minutes Monday night, Lewis states in a separate story. Sharpe, who will be a restricted free agent this summer, is averaging 9.5 points and 8.0 boards in his last four games while shooting 53.3% from the field. “I feel like I still got some room to go. I just feel like this is the start of it,” he said. “About three games ago, I feel like I really was starting to feel like myself again. Just coming back from the injury and not playing for months, I’m just still trying to figure my way out. And I feel like this is the start of it.”
It’s no secret that the Nets are tearing down their roster in hopes of landing a high lottery pick, but the players and coaches have offered a consistent public message throughout the process, per Bridget Reilly of The New York Post (subscription-only). “I wouldn’t say it’s hard. We all understand it’s part of the business, and that this is what we signed up for on Day 1,” said Keon Johnson, one of several young players getting increased minutes during the makeover. “But one thing we can control is what’s in front of us. Night in and night out, we don’t know who is going to be laced up. We don’t know who is going to be playing, but it’s just a better opportunity for everybody to be prepared and hope that your number is called.”

Nets Notes: Schröder, Defense, Milton, Fernandez

December 14th, 2024 at 11:01pm CST by Arthur Hill

The Nets’ impending trade of Dennis Schröder to Golden State could be the first step in tearing down the roster and focusing more on next year’s draft than this season’s win-loss record, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post.

There was an expectation that Brooklyn would be one of this season’s top tanking teams after regaining control of its 2025 and 2026 first-round picks in an offseason deal with Houston. There were concerns the Nets might be getting away from that strategy after a surprisingly strong start that has them in the midst of the East playoff race at 10-15, but the Schröder deal will likely accelerate a move down the standings.

Lewis points out that the loss of Schröder leaves the often-injured Ben Simmons as the only experienced point guard on the roster. De’Anthony Melton, who’s being acquired from the Warriors, is out for the season with a torn ACL, and the other options are shooting guards Keon Johnson and Shake Milton.

Schröder has been an important part of the Nets’ early-season success, averaging 18.4 points and 6.6 assists in 23 games. His performance, combined with affordable $13MM contract, made him an attractive trade target and minimized the chances that he would finish the season in Brooklyn. Before news of the deal leaked, Schröder talked to Lewis about being the subject of trade rumors.

“I’ve been in the league 12 years and people have talked about my name in trade talks for 12 years,” he said. “I’ve [only] been traded twice, so [gossip] is going to happen. They use it as an event where they can promote who is on the block. I don’t really care. But I’ve bought into this system right now because they pay my checks, and I’m doing my job every single day, and I’m always professional about it, always going to make the most out of it. Get 1 percent better every day. And whatever happens, happens. I understand it’s a business, but no worries here.”

There’s more from Brooklyn:

Defensive issues might have held down the Nets’ ceiling even if they had kept the roster together, Lewis states in a separate story. The team hasn’t improved its defense despite getting healthier, and it currently ranks last in opponent’s field goal defense and effective field goal percentage while being in the bottom five in other categories. “All the big bodies were in [Friday] and we still did a terrible job of protecting the rim. So it’s just something we got to figure out. We’ve all got to be on the same page,” Nic Claxton said. “I need to do a better job of protecting the rim. My blocks are down this year. But it’s on everyone, just being on the same page with our defense. Our defense isn’t good.”
Milton is grateful to be playing regularly after logging just 27 total minutes after the Knicks signed him in March, per Bridget Reilly of The New York Post. Cam Thomas‘ hamstring injury has created an opening for Milton, who’s playing nearly 25 minutes per night over the past nine games.
More roster changes could be coming before the trade deadline, possibly involving Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith, but head coach Jordi Fernandez isn’t focused on that, Reilly adds in another piece. “We love our group, I love my group, so I keep working with them every day going into the game like they are our group and they will be our group,” he said after Thursday’s practice. “Whatever happens, that I cannot control. I cannot be talking about it or worrying about it because that’s not, like you said, it’s not my job.”

Atlantic Notes: Fernandez, Nets Trade Talks, Celtics, Hart, Towns

December 10th, 2024 at 7:08pm CST by Dana Gauruder

Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez struck a threatening tone after his team’s loss to the Bucks on Sunday. After seeing Brooklyn’s defense allow 67 second-half points, Fernandez had a pointed message for his players.

“If our guys who wear a Brooklyn Nets jersey don’t play harder defense, they don’t have a place in our roster,” he said, per Jared Schwartz of the New York Post.

The Nets shot over 50% from the field but it was offset by the leaky defense, particularly on the perimeter.

“No defense to finish that third [quarter]. No defense to finish the fourth,” Fernandez said. “That’s how you win and lose games in the NBA. … You look at the offensive line, it’s pretty good. It’s just our defense was worse than bad.”

We have more from the Atlantic Division:

The Nets are very active in the trade market, according to an ESPN report, however they are being picky with what types of players they might take back in a trade, according to NetsDaily.com. A source familiar with the Nets discussions says that GM Sean Marks only wants to take back expiring contracts in order to preserve his cap space. However, another source told NetsDaily that Brooklyn might be willing to take on a contract with another year left on it if the draft assets are rich enough.
The Celtics are taking a high volume of three-point shots and making them. The Athletic’s Jared Weiss details how the defending champion’s offense has changed from last season. One notable difference is that the second unit is not as reliant on Jayson Tatum or Jaylen Brown to orchestrate the attack.
Josh Hart is questionable to play in the Knicks‘ NBA Cup quarterfinal game against Atlanta on Wednesday due to a left ankle sprain, Ian Begley of SNY TV tweets. Karl-Anthony Towns is probable with a right knee ailment.

New York Notes: Finney-Smith, Fernandez, Knicks, Hart

December 8th, 2024 at 9:22am CST by Rory Maher

Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith, who has missed the past four games — and six of the past seven — with a left ankle sprain, will return to action on Sunday vs. Milwaukee, per Brian Lewis of The New York Post. The 31-year-old was able to practice for the second consecutive day on Saturday and is not on the injury report for today’s matinee against the Bucks.

“It’s a long season. Nobody’s really 100 percent, so I’m pretty sure everybody’s got some nags and bumps and bruises, but I feel better and I’m ready to play [Sunday],” Finney-Smith said. “Yeah, no question. You know I’m playing.”

As Lewis writes, Finney-Smith has by far the best plus-minus on Brooklyn’s roster (plus-56). On top of shooting a career-best 42.2% from three-point range and playing solid, switchable defense, he’s also the Nets’ locker-room leader.

“Doe brings toughness, his veteran leadership that he brings to any team,” Trendon Watford said. “That’s what he’s made his name off of, just him being a leader and him being that tough guy, him just being a knockdown shooter and lock-down defender. We know what Doe brings every night, and we definitely can use it.”

Second-year big man Noah Clowney is questionable for Sunday’s contest after missing the past six games with his own left ankle sprain, Lewis adds.

Here are some more notes on the NBA’s two New York-based teams:

First-year Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has been lauded for his job performance thus far, Lewis writes in subscriber-only story for The New York Post. In addition to being nominated for the Eastern Conference’s Coach of the Month award, Fernandez has drawn praise both inside and outside the organization for instilling belief in a club that was widely expected to finish with among the worst records in the league. Despite dealing with injuries to several key players, Brooklyn is currently 10-13, the No. 8 seed in the East.
Playing without Karl-Anthony Towns, who was a late scratch due to a right knee patellar tendinopathy, the Knicks had a disappointing home loss to Detroit on Saturday, according to Peter Botte of The New York Post. Jericho Sims got the start at center in place of Towns, but he only played six minutes, with head coach Tom Thibodeau turning to Precious Achiuwa and rookie Ariel Hukporti to man the middle. Mikal Bridges expressed disappointment with the team’s defensive effort after giving up 120 points to a Pistons team that ranks 22nd in the league in offensive rating. “Not good. I think we pick and choose when [to play defense],” Bridges said. “And we ain’t that good that we can just pick and choose when to play defense.”
Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson was questionable ahead of Saturday’s game due to a lower back contusion he sustained in Thursday’s victory over Charlotte, but he wound up playing a season-high 44 minutes and scoring a game-high 31 points to go along with 10 assists in the loss, notes Christian Arnold of The New York Post.
Thibodeau was disappointed that Knicks forward Josh Hart was ejected for receiving his second technical foul late in the fourth quarter, according to Ian Begley of SNY.tv. “Josh plays on emotion which is great,” Thibodeau said. “But there’s a fine line and just, we can’t have that in the fourth quarter.” Hart claimed he didn’t know why he received either technical.

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