NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Ochai Agbaji had his best season in the NBA last year in his first, full campaign with for a Toronto Raptors team that was still rebuilding. Agbaji was surprisingly traded to Brooklyn during the trade deadline as the Raptors were looking to accomplish other tasks outside of roster building, but he is looking forward to his new experience with the Nets.

“It’s been great. [It’s] kind of been a whirlwind these past few days. But it feels like family out here in this organization,” Agbaji said prior to Saturday’s 127-113 win over the Washington Wizards. With Agbaji officially being acquired on Thursday, there was enough time that passed for him to be available for Brooklyn against Washington. While he didn’t play against the Wizards, Agbaji understands what his strengths are for this team.

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“My defense, and just the intensity that I play with and the intensity that I bring every single night. I’m always trying to win every single possession. That’s just me as a player and what I bring,” Agbaji said when asked what he brings to the Nets. “I just know that I have a lot more to show. For sure, I had a great season last year, and I’m just trying to build off that and continue into this season.”

Agbaji, 25, was averaging 4.3 points and 2.3 rebounds per game while shooting 42.4% from the field and 18.5% from three-point land in 42 games played for the Raptors prior to being traded to Brooklyn. In the 2024-25 season, Agbaji was able to show more of what he was capable of doing as he averaged 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game while shooting 49.8% from the floor and 39.9% from behind the three-point line.

Time will tell how much playing time Agbaji will see with the Nets given that head coach Jordi Fernandez usually goes 10-deep in his rotation with players like Terance Mann, Ziaire Williams, and Jalen Wilson fighting for playing time towards the end of the bench. Agbaji didn’t play against Washington, but that could come down to him not having enough time to familiarize himself with the scheme. Either way, Agbaji is ready to give everything he has.

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets’ Ochai Agbaji reacts to being traded to Brooklyn from Raptors