Egor Dëmin has played the 11th-most minutes of any rookie in the NBA this season and fellow Nets rookie Drake Powell is 16th on that list.
When Ben Saraf is healthy, he’s averaged 13.9 minutes per game, 27th in the league.
As the Nets navigate what will certainly be another lost season, at least when it comes to competing for a playoff spot, it’s up to head coach Jordi Fernández to determine how best to keep the team somewhat competitive — as they’ve been in their past four games — while also giving the first-year players enough time on the court to help them develop for the future.
And it’s also up to standout veterans like Michael Porter Jr. to make sure the Nets don’t get totally embarrassed.
Ben Saraf #77 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball against the Atlanta Hawks. NBAE via Getty Images
Because as Fernández said following Tuesday’s defeat in Brooklyn to a Celtics team that’s remained solid despite the loss of Jayson Tatum to a torn Achilles and the decision by the front office to build for the future, the focus of this Nets team is on the future.
“A lot of you guys [in the media] will not see wins in the standings,’’ Fernández said. “We have high standards. We want to win and we play to win, but the wins are also the future Nets who will play on a winning team are getting their minutes. We have to figure out how to make the players better and grow. For four straight games, we’ve played a respectable brand of basketball. If that’s the case, we will continue to do that and live with the results.”
To that end, the results may not change much, especially over the next five games, all of which are against teams currently over .500 and in the Eastern Conference, starting in Boston on Friday.
Dëmin, the highest-drafted Nets rookie — eighth overall — has lived up to his billing as a strong outside shooter, as well as a solid distributor, but he’s so far lacked the physicality that would allow him to get to the basket and finish consistently, as well as play solid defense.
Powell said he’s still adjusting to the pace of the NBA game, but not in typical fashion.
After Fernández said he wanted the Nets to play with a faster pace, Powell agreed, noting that he felt he played with more pace last season at North Carolina and that the increase would help his game, as well as the entire team.
Michael Porter Jr. #17 of the Brooklyn Nets drives against Jordan Walsh #27 of the Boston Celtics during their game at Barclays Center on November 18, 2025. Getty Images
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And the two of them will undoubtedly continue to see the court a lot.
“Minutes are very important,” Fernández said. “And accountability is important, too.”
The coach believes it will lead to good things later on, even if the record probably won’t show it.
“Winning starts now,’’ Fernández said. “I’ll keep coaching and, at times, feeling like I’ll do whatever I can do to go get the win and help the team compete.”
That the Nets have been competitive each of the past four games is something to build on, according to Porter.
“It’s a good opportunity for all of us,’’ Porter said when asked if he was frustrated by trying to get this inexperienced team going. “It’s not frustrating. We’re all in this together. It’s not only the young guys, it’s a new group together. We’ve made strides, which is why we’re more competitive than we were in Game 2 and Game 3 [of the season]… It’s a step in the right direction.”