The Brooklyn Nets (0-1) began this training camp with the hope of having a better season than they had during 2024-25 when they finished with a 26-56 record. Brooklyn’s first game of the 2025-26 NBA season was against a fairly-beatable opponent in the Charlotte Hornets (1-0), but the Nets weren’t prepared for what Charlotte was ready to do in front of their home crowd.
The Nets lost to the Hornets 136-117 in their season-opener thanks to a combination of many facets of the game not going well for a Brooklyn squad looking to have a solid season. Center Nic Claxton led the way for the Nets to the tune of 17 points and four rebounds while guard Cam Thomas had 15 points and two assists in what was a tough shooting performance for him by his standards.
Defense was the main weakness for Brooklyn in this one as they allowed Brooklyn to shoot 53.3% from the field along with being beat in transition 23-5 in terms of fastbreak points. There were a number of areas that the Nets have to address after this embarrassing loss, but for now, here are the Nets player grades following Wednesday’s loss in Charlotte:
Ben Saraf: C+
Saraf started this game instead of Egor Demin, but it’s possible that Demin is on some kind of minutes restriction as he recovers from his plantar fascia injury. Saraf played well during his time on the floor as he showed some poise in the pick-and-roll, but his outside shooting left some to be desired. Saraf did a good job of taking care of the basketball and setting up his teammates.
Cam Thomas: C-
Thomas had a rough offensive shooting performance in this one as he couldn’t find his touch shooting the basketball, but that didn’t stop him from being aggressive on the offensive end. Thomas continued to pry the defense and showed some of his craftiness by drawing contact and getting most of his points the easy way at the free-throw line.
Terance Mann: C-
Mann had a rough start to this game as he wasn’t able to contribute much on the offensive end while getting into severe foul trouble in the first half. However, as the second half progressed, Mann found himself getting more comfortable on both ends of the floor and was able to get his footing driving to the rim and defending his man without fouling.
Michael Porter Jr.: C
Despite how hot Porter was in Brooklyn’s preseason finale, he wasn’t able to carry over that hot shooting in this game as he just couldn’t establish a rhythm on the offensive end. To his credit, Porter did a solid job of rebounding and he consistently found his teammates for easy looks, showing that part of his offensive impact can be outside of his shotmaking.
Nic Claxon: B
Claxton was the driver of the Nets’ offense as he continually drove to the rim and finished, especially when Ryan Kalkbrenner was on the floor for the Hornets. Claxton is not normally one of the main contributors on the offensive end for Brooklyn, but it seems that when the Nets need a bucket, they know that they can give the ball to Claxton and he can take advantage by driving to the rim and finishing through contact.
Ziaire Williams: D
Williams had the kind of game that he would like to forget as he couldn’t get anything going on either end of the floor despite getting some solid looks. More to the point, Williams had a tough time staying in front of whoever he was guarding and that did not help a Nets team that gave up points in bunches to a Hornets team looking to run every time.
Noah Clowney: C-
Clowney struggled with his shot in this one as he couldn’t find his rhythm on the offensive end, even when he was playing at the center spot with Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe out of the game. Clowney was more aggressive with the ball in his hands and tried to use his body when driving to the rim, but it wasn’t his night to show what he is capable of.
Day’Ron Sharpe: B+
Sharpe showed a lot during his time on the floor as he seemingly couldn’t miss from the field, especially when he hit a stepback three-pointer within the flow of the offense. Sharpe did a solid job of rebounding the basketball, but he also struggled mightily with turnovers and fouls to show what kind of games Sharpe could have when he isn’t taking care of the ball.
Tyrese Martin: C+
Martin saw a significant amount of playing time off the bench in this one and it was easy to see why with how smooth he is on the floor and doesn’t seem to be sped up at any point. Unfortunately, that calmness didn’t translate to his shooting as he had a tough time making shots, but he did a good job of passing the ball and made some plays in the passing lane on defense.
Egor Demin: B-
Demin surprisingly didn’t start this game, but he seemed ready when he came off the bench as he basically couldn’t miss from three-point range with his much-improved shot. Demin’s ball-handling has been tested since the preseason finale and it looks like until he can prove that he won’t be shaky with the ball in his hands that teams will continue to pressure him.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets player grades: Nic Claxton drops 17 in 136-117 loss at Hornets
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
