Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe is one of the longest-tenured members on the Nets and along the way, he has grown significantly as a player and as a person. At one point, Sharpe didn’t have a stable role within Brooklyn’s rotation and now, he appears to be cemented as the backup center on the roster who has been preparing to be ready for anything the team throws at him.
“Personally I just try to be in shape. So, no matter where you’re at, whatever coverage he [Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez] wants to run, I can do it,” Sharpe said after Tuesday’s 113-99 loss to the Boston Celtics. Sharpe finished the game with one of his best efforts of the season to this point with 16 points, seven rebounds, and three steals in just 18 minutes off the bench.
“I remember the days I wasn’t playing so I just tried to wherever I can to stay on the court and whatever the coach wants to do [with Sharpe] as a big in defense, I’m gonna do it. So, I just buy into it,” Sharpe continued. Sharpe was answering the question of how much a toll Fernandez’s defense takes on him given that he and starter Nic Claxton are being asked to do more on defense than just playing drop coverage and sitting in the paint.
Sharpe, 24, is in his fifth season in the NBA after being selected with the 29th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of North Carolina two picks after Brooklyn took guard Cam Thomas. Sharpe had some injuries last season that limited him to 50 appearances, but he has been healthy for all 13 of the Nets’ game this campaign, averaging 7.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game while shooting 63.6% from the field.
Part of the reason that Sharpe went from being outside of the rotation to having a consistent role as Claxton’s backup is due to the work that he has done with his game and his body. Despite the fact that Sharpe has improved his hands and shooting around the basket, he also came into the season noticeably slimmer while adding the strength to his frame that he needs to be successful. It looks like the work is showing for Sharpe.