NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets rookie guard Ben Saraf enters the 2025-26 NBA season with some questions about his game after being selected with the 26th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Saraf had an uneven performance in the Las Vegas Summer League, but so far in Brooklyn’s training camp, he has been impressing everyone and he explained why he’s surprising some people.

“So far, it’s going pretty well. The team, our coaches and everybody are really helping me understand the game. It’s pretty different in Europe,” Saraf said following Tuesday’s training camp practice. Head coach Jordi Fernandez and some of the players that have spoken to the media since camp opened last week have sung Saraf’s praises, an instance that should be a sign of encouragement for Nets fans that are worried about Saraf’s potential.

“Everybody is really helping me and supporting me, so that makes things easier on me, and I’m feeling pretty well,” Saraf continued before going into the differences between when he was playing in Europe and playing in the NBA currently. “I think physicality, of course. I think I’ve gained some pounds here. Just the pace of the game and what coaches want, it’s more 3-point shots or shots at the rim, free throws, less mid-range.”

Saraf, 19, is one of five rookies that the Nets took in the first round of the 2025 Draft, but he is also one of three point guards, Egor Demin and Nolan Traore are the others, to be competing for playing time in camp. Saraf will most likely have to battle with Traore for backup minutes and that’s not including if Kobe Bufkin fits into the point guard competition. Saraf will have to worry about the competition along with adjusting to the NBA game.

“Those are things I used to like to do, but now I need to adjust and they’re really helping me with that. So, I’m working on my 3-point shot, my ability to get to the rim, so I think those are the main differences for me,” Saraf said. Whether Saraf can carve out a role in head coach Jordi Fernandez’s rotation is left to be seen, but he knows what he has to do to get to that point.