Inside The Nets

Brooklyn Nets monitor Noah Clowney's G-League performance for NBA transition

Clowney has been tearing it up in the NBA G-League.

Marin Gabric

© Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
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After getting picked 21st overall in the 2023 NBA Draft, Noah Clowney has gotten limited opportunities with the Brooklyn Nets. He is a raw prospect, as he’s one of the youngest players in the league at only 19 years old. However, he has showcased his potential while playing for Brooklyn’s G-League affiliate, the Long Island Nets.

In seven games for Long Island, Clowney is averaging 16.3 points and eight rebounds. He has displayed brilliant potential with how he’s played with energy and insane athleticism, that Coach Jacque Vaughn would love. However, Clowney has not received the permanent call-up just yet.

“I get a chance to watch his minutes, and they’re graded every single game. I watched his last probably three games this morning,” Coach JV said before the game against Miami. “It’s something we organizationally have talked about, having Noah at some point join us.”

Clowney can be a strong backup big

The Nets have Nic Claxton starting at center, and he has proven he deserves that nod with his defensive versatility and efficient offense. For his backup, Day’Ron Sharpe has provided stability whenever Nic sits down. Day’Ron rebounds the ball well, and he’s decent at defending the pick-and-roll.

However, injuries are always a dark cloud looming over Brooklyn’s players. This is where Clowney comes in because if there is an injury crisis with the Nets, Noah is ready. At the moment, Sharpe is out injured, which could’ve opened up a spot for Clowney, but the organization opted to use more experienced players in Harry Giles III and Trendon Watford first.

The Nets are letting Clowney develop in the G-League

With his promising performances for Long Island, Clowney is getting more time to develop away from Brooklyn. He can still practice with the team, but most of his minutes will be in the G-League. This has proven to be a successful model for most youngsters.

Moving forward, though, the Nets should allow Clowney to play significant minutes in the NBA. Noah is one of the most explosive athletes on the team, and he can provide the energy and spark the squad needs in a rocky season.

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Marin Gabric
MARIN GABRIC

Marin's love for writing developed in high school but was furthered in college when he took a number of creative writing courses. Doing sports writing felt like an extremely natural continuation, as it furthered his passions in both writing and basketball.  Marin loves the feeling of looking at stats after a game and analyzing what each team could've done better or what they excel in compared to the rest of the league. And the ability to do so for his favorite team, the Brooklyn Nets, is quite special in itself. 

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