Day’Ron Sharpe is no longer just a backup big man off the bench. He’s become Brooklyn’s full-time starting center, and the early returns heading into Saturday’s game in Memphis are hard to ignore.
Sharpe carries a plus-16.7 net rating swing for the Nets this season, meaning Brooklyn is an aggregate 16.7 points better per 100 possessions, on both ends, with him on the floor. That ranks fourth among all qualified centers in the league.
Nets coach Jordi Fernández credited Sharpe’s work ethic for the leap. “Yeah, he’s embracing the new role, and he’s adjusting,” Fernández said. “He’s adjusting with playing bigger minutes. … It comes with, its a lot. And I think he’s doing a great job. He is being very diligent with his routine, his body, taking care of himself, his treatment, what he eats. And right now, you can see that he can perform in longer stints and for more minutes.”
“So, very proud of him, and I think he’s impacting the group also,” Fernández added. “We’re playing well and, at times, very well because of him. And what he brings, like yesterday or two days ago, he had huge winning plays at the rim and verticalities and then his passing, rebounding so forth. So I’m very happy and he’s got to keep taking steps, keep working.”
Over his last six games, Sharpe has averaged 9.5 points, seven rebounds and 6.5 assists against just 2.2 turnovers, nearly a 3-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s found a rhythm running dribble handoffs with Michael Porter Jr., and his four straight games with at least five assists set a Nets franchise record for a center.
Rebounding has always come naturally to Sharpe, even in limited minutes. What’s new is the rim protection. His career-high-tying four blocks in New Orleans gave him 10 blocks over his last five games.
“I’d just say for me, just trusting the work that I always preach, just being patient when I get the ball and just playing hard usual, just trying to make as many winning plays as I can,” Sharpe said. “Like I said before the season started, I feel like I’m trying to be one of the best when it comes to the small details of the game. Extra plays, saving plays, it’s all about the position game to me. So as many possessions as I can help our team win, that’s what matters.”
Brooklyn’s injury report for Saturday’s trip to Memphis includes point guard Nolan Traore, listed as questionable with right calf soreness after sitting out the win in New Orleans. Rookie Mikel Brown Jr. is also questionable with an illness that kept him out of that same game.
“Nolan just practiced with the group; see how he feels after,” Fernández said. “And then Mikel hasn’t practiced, he’s not here. See how he feels (Saturday).”
Point guard Ben Saraf was not called up for the Memphis game. He remains on G-League assignment along with Joshua Jefferson, Tyler Bilodeau and Grant Nelson.
