In a best-case situation, it’d be only a one-game want for the Nets.
They’d get Cam Thomas — who missed Tuesday’s win with decrease again tightness that head coach Jordi Fernandez known as “nothing main” — again of their lineup Friday and wouldn’t begin Jalen Wilson.
However within the context of Wilson’s trajectory, as a former second-round choose in his second NBA season, his manufacturing towards the Hornets supplied a constructive step in his improvement.
He scored a season-high 17 factors whereas connecting on a career-best 5 3-pointers, as his work in that space — which began when Brooklyn added him in final yr’s draft — lastly paid off.
And as a younger ahead on a rebuilding staff with a membership choice for subsequent season, his position may solely proceed to develop when starters carrying extra worth probably are dealt earlier than February’s commerce deadline.
“Staying within the fitness center, irrespective of how excessive or low a day is, you bought to proceed to work, proceed to place the photographs up,” Wilson stated postgame. “Like I stated, simply … understanding the photographs are gonna go in, and being prepared for the shot. We have now so many nice playmakers on our staff, so simply being able to shoot always has been serving to me.”
Throughout his rookie season, Wilson averaged simply 1.7 3-point makes an attempt per recreation, however that quantity has ballooned to three.7 one month into the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
Whereas he’s labored on his 3-point shot, he has centered in video games on making an attempt to drive and power defenses to break down — releasing up house for different shooters.
However towards Charlotte, the Nets wanted Wilson to make these photographs.
He didn’t understand he had set a brand new profession excessive in the course of the recreation. It wasn’t till afterward — and “it was cool to do,” Wilson stated.
He, together with the remainder of the Nets, struggled early and fell right into a 17-point gap, however after being held and not using a shot within the opening body, Wilson tried eight within the second quarter and sank three of them, together with a pair of 3s.
Early within the second half, Wilson hit a shot from past the arc to offer the Nets their first lead.
He buried one other one later within the body, too, and added a pair of 3s early within the fourth to maintain them inside placing distance.
As a result of Thomas didn’t seem on the unique harm report earlier than steadily getting downgraded all through the day, Wilson didn’t know concerning the begin till proper earlier than tip-off.
Certain, he’d performed half-hour in a recreation earlier than this season. Certain, he’d already hit 16 factors, too — however each of these occurred within the opener.
This time, and for simply the fourth time in his profession, Wilson earned a begin.
And if the Nets ever want him there once more, perhaps on Friday relying on Thomas’ outlook, his efficiency mirrored a capability to deal with the elevated position.
“After that rocky begin,” Fernandez stated, “he was actually, actually good.”
