Mounting losses can’t slow down Sharpe

Day’Ron Sharpe is one of the Nets’ most consistent effort players, whether he is coming off the bench or getting an occasional spot start. AP Photo by Brandon Dill

Brooklyn’s ongoing rebuild has had one solid foundation piece in place since 2021.

And reserve center Day’Ron Sharpe refuses to stop playing at a postseason intensity level despite the Nets’ ever-fading chances of seriously competing for a playoff spot this year.

Sharpe has led the team in rebounding in each of the past four games, and put together a stat line of 22 points, 25 boards, three assists, two blocked shots and two steals over 44 minutes in Brooklyn’s latest back-to-back.

None of it put the Nets over the top on the first two games of this road trip, which wraps up Wednesday night in New Orleans.

But Brooklyn second-year coach Jordi Fernández never fails to point out the competitive spirit of the Nets’ five-year veteran, who went just as hard when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were aspiring to lead this franchise to its first-ever NBA title until both were sent packing in February 2023.

“Yeah, it was really good,” Fernández said of Sharpe’s performance following Brooklyn’s 113-105 loss in Dallas on Monday night.

“I mean, you saw it, especially enough for a double double right away, I think 10 points, 11 rebounds (in the first 10 1/2 minutes he played). He finished with 14 and 12, which is impressive in 22 minutes.”

Sharpe went 4-of-7 from the field against the Mavericks and buried all six of his free throws. He also grabbed seven of the Nets’ nine offensive rebounds while leading the “Bench Mob” to a 36-point collective effort.

“(He) played really hard, kept that unit together,” gushed Fernández. “He set really good screens, (did) all those things that are very meaningful for what we try to do.

“It’s not just the points and rebounds. He did a lot of things for his teammates,” he added.

Doubtlessly coveted for his services off the bench by perennial playoff contenders, Sharpe may be in play for a potential trade when the February deadline approaches.

However, the hulking 6-foot-10 North Carolina alum isn’t in the business of looking past his next call off the bench, or an occasional spot start.

He was on the floor for the opening tip three times this year, including a pair of starts when Nic Claxton was out for personal reasons. 

Sharpe led the Nets with 14 points and nine rebounds in a loss at Washington on Jan. 2 before amassing 17 points, six rebounds, four assists and blocked shot and three steals in a rousing 127-115 win over Denver at Barclays Center two days later.

Brooklyn reserve center Day’Ron Sharpe’s intense focus is rubbing off on the youngest roster in the NBA, including 19-year-old Nolan Traoré. AP Photo by Yuki Iwamura

“He did great things on both ends,” Fernández said after the Jan. 4 victory over the Nuggets. “He was the anchor defensively today, from the beginning with those blitzes. … He was awesome.” 

Though he credits most of his personal success to his offseason work ethic, Sharpe is making an impact on the youngest roster in the NBA every time he leads by example.

“He’s a great guy to be around, not just on the court, but off the court,” said Nets rookie Egor Dёmin, who sat out Monday’s loss to the Mavericks.

“I think that’s what translates on the court, and obviously because of his hard work and his dedication to it.”

Through his first 36 appearances this year, Sharpe is averaging 7.7 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. 

Those may seem like modest numbers, but the Nets’ 2021 first-round pick is stacking those numbers in limited time off the pine.

His advanced stats suggest that he would be putting up 17.2 points, 14.0 boards and 5.4 assists per 40 minutes.

Brooklyn’s leading scorer and rebounder Michael Porter Jr. calls Sharpe a “starting five NBA player”, and Fernández is not shying away from using him in that role if the pivot position is open.

Otherwise, Sharpe is quite proficient at giving the starting five a lift when he rips off his warmups and heads for the scorer’s table.

“I’ve been in the league five years now, so every summer, every day when I’m not playing a lot of minutes, I have to stay ready,” Sharpe said after the Denver win.

“Whenever I get the opportunity I produce.”

Cam Thomas is expected back from his rest day in Dallas when the Nets visit the league-worst New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night. AP Photo by Brandon Dill

The Nets (11-26) hope Sharpe is ready to help them avoid their worst losing streak since they opened the season with seven consecutive defeats.

Brooklyn has dropped four in a row heading into New Orleans (9-33), which owns the worst record in the NBA.

The Pelicans are coming off Tuesday’s 122-116 loss to visiting Denver. Trey Murphy III poured in 31 points for New Orleans, which has lost 11 of its last 12.

The Nets won the first meeting with the Pelicans at Barclays Center on Dec. 6, rolling to a 119-101 rout behind 35 points from Porter.

Dёmin and backup guard Cam Thomas are both expected to return to action for the Nets in New Orleans after sitting out the Dallas game to rest on the second leg of the back-to-back.

Tip-off at the Smoothie King Center is slated for 8 p.m. ET.

The game will air locally on the YES Network

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