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Sharpe’s relentless work ethic and physical transformation have him poised for a breakout season as the Nets’ center of the future.Brooklyn Today
Despite missing the end of the 2025-26 season due to thumb surgery, Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe is coming off the best year of his young NBA career. Now 24 years old, Sharpe is intent on continuing to improve his game and physique to earn more playing time and potentially challenge for a starting role next season.
Why it matters
Sharpe’s development is crucial for the Nets, who are looking to build a contending roster around stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. As a former first-round pick, Sharpe has shown steady improvement each season, and the team will need him to take another step forward to solidify the center position.
The details
Sharpe averaged career highs of 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game last season, while shooting a team-best 60.1% from the field. He’s worked to reshape his body, dropping baby fat and becoming more explosive, which has helped him finish better around the rim. Sharpe will look to continue that physical transformation this offseason, with the goal of being more of a rim-protecting, rim-running threat next season.
Sharpe underwent surgery to repair an ulnar collateral ligament tear in his left thumb at the end of the 2025-26 season.Sharpe is currently in the rehab process and focused on staying in shape this summer.
The players
Day’Ron Sharpe
A 24-year-old center for the Brooklyn Nets, Sharpe is coming off the best season of his young NBA career and is intent on continuing to improve his game and physique.
Nic Claxton
Sharpe’s teammate and the Nets’ starting center, Claxton will be the player Sharpe looks to challenge for more playing time and potentially a starting role next season.
Jordi Fernández
The Nets’ head coach, Fernández has praised Sharpe’s work ethic and development, and believes the young center has significant room for growth.
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What they’re saying
“Everything’s been going pretty good post-surgery, just rehabbing now, trying to stay in shape and stuff like that so I have a good summer. I’d say I feel like I could do better, but I’ve shown growth this season. So it’s just all about showing growth and getting better overall.”
— Day’Ron Sharpe, Nets Center
“From Year 1 to now, I feel like this season was another year of growth, so I’m just trying to build off that and continue to show growth in my career.”
— Day’Ron Sharpe, Nets Center
“My body still has been one of my biggest things. So just my body in general because I want to be more explosive next season. I’m trying to dunk on guys more next season.”
— Day’Ron Sharpe, Nets Center
“It’s been his work ethic and how much he’s matured, and credit to him to put the work in and being consistent, how he’s changed his body. Very happy. Not just the work ethic and the production, but also the type of person that we have in the locker room. Day’Ron has got a big personality, fills the room, everybody loves him and that’s important for a group. And he cares and he wants to compete and he wants to get better. The sky’s the limit for him.”
— Jordi Fernández, Nets Head Coach
What’s next
Sharpe will continue his rehab process this offseason and focus on reshaping his body to be more explosive and effective around the rim. He’ll look to challenge Nic Claxton for more playing time and potentially a starting role next season.
The takeaway
Sharpe’s continued development is crucial for the Nets as they look to build a contending roster around their star duo of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. If Sharpe can take another step forward and solidify the center position, it would provide a major boost to the team’s long-term outlook.