The Brooklyn Nets have been experiencing plenty of losses to begin the 2025-26 NBA season, but some of that had to be assume given that the franchise is still rebuilding. Brooklyn has been trying to incorporate rookies like guard Egor Demin and forward Drake Powell into the fold and as a result, everyone has seen some encouraging signs from both rookies along the way.
“I don’t think you can say the word “flashes” [when discussing Powell]. You don’t see flashes, you see a reality. You see where the growth and what we have right there,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said of Powell prior to Tuesday’s 119-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors. After dealing with a tender right ankle to begin the season, Powell has not only played a sizable role within the rotation, but he has also shown what he can be for Brooklyn right away.
“Like a player that can play on both ends, a player that moves the way he moves, is very special. The other day, yes, we saw the ball go in, but a lot of the things he did, they looked on pace, under control, all those things,” Fernandez continued. “For a just turned 20-year-old, I think it’s pretty impressive. Now, the challenge is, do it again. Do it better, and that’s going to be every day. Do it again. Do it better. Do it longer. Do it for more minutes.”
Prior to Tuesday’s loss to the Raptors, Powell had his best game of the season in Sunday’s 134-98 loss at the New York Knicks as he dropped 15 points, two rebounds, and three assists in 22 minutes. Powell’s performance against the Raptors, six points, three assists, and two steals, was still a solid outing to see from the rookie as he learns in real-time what he can get away with at the NBA level.
Fernandez and the coaching staff has also made it a point to play rookies like Powell and Demin in huge spots so that they can learn while on the floor instead of watching from the sidelines. No matter what Fernandez chooses to play Powell, it’s clear that he has shown that he needs to play a significant amount of minutes if the team wants the best chance to win games, even this early in his career.