Brooklyn Nets rookie guard Nolan Traore has not spent much time at the NBA level which has been a point of contention with some Nets fans during this current rebuild. Brooklyn has been giving consistent playing time to the other four rookies in the midst of some injuries, but it looks like Traore is thriving as he is getting more reps at the G League level.
On Friday, the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League afiliate, beat the Delaware Blue Coats 125-106 in large part thanks to Traore’s impact on the game. Traore, playing in his 10th G League game of the season, put up a career-high 30 points along with four rebounds and six assists while shooting 10-of-13 from the field and 4-of-5 from three-point land.
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Traore, 19, is now averaging 18.1 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 5.4 assists per game on .460/.393/.760 shooting splits, showing that he is benefitting from the extra playing time. Time will tell if the Nets will bring Traore up to the NBA level to see how he performs against tougher competition, but with the way the rotation has been set by head coach Jordi Fernandez, it seems like Traore won’t get playing time unless there is a significant amount of injuries.
Ultimately, Traore, similar to fellow rookies Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, has to work on his weaknesses to the point that Fernandez can trust him with minutes without stunting his development due to poor play. Traore, the 19th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, came into the NBA with questions about his shooting and ball security, but he seems to have improved the shooting aspect of his game if his G League statistics are any indication.
However, even at the G League level, Traore is still struggling with turnovers and defensive consistency as he is averaging 4.1 turnovers and 3.7 personal fouls per game. Traore will most likely remain in the G League for the foreseeable future as he continues to build his confidence and refine his game, but that situation could change after the trade deadline.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets’ Nolan Traore has best game of the season in the G League