As a low season occupied with the low season that will be heavy in reconstruction, the main office will have the task of deciding which young players seem promising and could be possible construction blocks in the future.
With a 14-point performance from the bank in the 119-114 victory over the Pelicans on Tuesday that included four consecutive triples in the second quarter, Dariq Whitehead is demonstrating that it could be one of those young construction blocks.
The 20 -year -old Duke product, which was the number 22 of the NBA Draft of 2023, has suffered almost two lost seasons to begin its NBA career with several injuries, including a stress reaction in its left spin that required the terrain of the season in its rookie year.
Whitehead also underwent surgeries on his right foot before and after his single season as a blue demon.
He has only played in 17 NBA games and 21 G-League competitions this season.
However, with three games stirring in the regular season for the Nets, Whitehead told journalists that he feels about 90 percent of the way back to how he felt in his first year in Duke before the various injuries.
“I feel it is coming,” Whitehead said after the victory on Tuesday. “I will say that it is night and day only to trust my body and things. Do things that I house in two years, which is incredible to me and I am sure it is incredible that the coaches and the staff see it.”
To get to this point, the New Jersey native worked to put his body in form in Long Island.
After restoring the fundamentals, he worked in his mango and be able to overcome the opponents of dribbles, the things they said could do when he took Brooklyn.
Whitehead has triggered better significant in the NBA despite the small sample size.
He is doing 44 percent of his shots from a range of 3 points with the networks this season, and is 37 percent with G-League Long Island.
“Up, coach [Jordi Fernández] He is very loud with what he hears: shoots 3s, he plays a lot of defense, “Whitehead said about the difference between Brooklyn and Long Island.” Wishes as 55, 50 3s per game. So, for me, when I hear that, leave, any photo that is a good photo that takes it. “
On Tuesday, the small striker was 4 of 7 from beyond the arch and also had two assists and two robberies.
“He has done a great job when letting him fly,” said Fernández. “He works. He works with the coaches, [assistant coach] Traveler [Bader] He does a great job with him and just trusting the work he does will appear in the game. At this time, he has been shooting very well. With Long Island, it is an equally excellent leg and those shots and those minutes are valuable and these shots and thesis minute are also very valuable. “
Nets are looking for fundamental players to maintain, develop and, hopefully, produce what they expect to be a renewed season in 2025-26.
To be a collaborator, Whitehead understands that he needs to push his body to put himself in the best possible way and keep in mind that Fernández addresses in the output interviews.
“This will be an important summer for me,” Whitehead said. “Since I am injured, I house to be able to work on those things, which is recovering my athletics and simply doing certain movements. Just attacking this summer is very important.”
After having played limited minutes in both leagues, Whitehead has seen flashes of what could have been in his young career.
He has forced him to develop a new mentality in the game so as not to give anything for granted.
His new perspective and spirit plan to make the most of his opportunity to break the networks this summer.
“Everything can change in the click of a finger,” Whitehead said. “There are many people in this world who could have my place and this place in the NBA. So, I try to remember that every day.”
