NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets began the 2025-26 NBA season not only as one of the worst defensive teams in the league, but potentially of all-time at the rate they were giving up points. Brooklyn has seemingly turned things around on that end of the floor due to having an easier schedule to begin December, but also with some retooling during the extra practice sessions.
“It’s credit to the coaches to find a way to break things down,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said after Sunday’s 96-81 win over the Toronto Raptors. Sunday’s win over the Raptors gave Brooklyn their fifth win in their last 10 games while also notching their sixth game out of eight games played during December in which they held their opponent to 103 points or less.
“The Nets ranked 29th defensively (just a hair better than the Wizards) through November 30, but have already managed to climb out of the bottom 10 on that end of the floor,” John Schuhmann wrote for NBA.com in his latest power rankings where he placed Brooklyn at 24th. “Their last two wins (vs. the Bucks and Raptors) have been the second and third-best defensive games for any team this season. Rebounding is one big area of improvement, and Toronto had just one second-chance point (fewest for any team this season) on Sunday.”
Through Brooklyn’s first 10 games of the campaign, they had allowed their opponents to average 125.5 points per game with the Washington Wizards being the only team worse than the Nets on the defensive end as they allowed 129.2 points per contest as of Nov. 10. In terms of defensive rating, the Nets were at 126.6, which would have been the worst defensive rating in NBA history of those numbers held.
“When we had time to practice and watch film with the players and do their one-on-one work that they do, embracing the defensive end of the floor and especially the players because they’re the one putting the work in and buying into it,” Fernandez continued while speaking about the change in the team’s defensive performance. “We didn’t buy into a lot of things. Obviously, we have evolved and made some adjustments, but now, it feels like we have a good rhythm with our physicality, with our communication.”
The Nets’ defense will be tested in Tuesday’s game at the Philadelphia 76ers as they are 12th in the league in offensive rating while boasting one of the best backcourts in the NBA with Tyrese Maxey and rookie VJ Edgecombe. However, Fernandez and the Nets seem to be confident in their ability to defend their opponents, especially given how far they’ve come on the defensive end since the beginning of the season.