Why is Royce O'Neale The Unsung Hero of The 2023/24 Nets
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Ever since he was playing for the Utah Jazz, Royce O’Neale has mostly stayed under the radar. He is a no-nonsense player who works hard in every play, whether it’s defending or contributing to the offense.
With the Nets, O’Neale has carved out a regular spot in the Brooklyn Nets’ rotation.
He's a reliable defender, adept at handling power forwards with physicality yet possessing the size and speed to keep up with smaller wings and guards, embodying the ideal glue guy—although his contributions occasionally fly under the radar.
The Royce pump strikes again. https://t.co/N6EUecR61O pic.twitter.com/1uI4ILtWm5
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 15, 2023
“I think everyone has the next man up mentality. We’re a deep and versatile team, so I think using that to our advantage, playing to our strengths, and when somebody goes down, next person up and keep going,” O’Neale said about his mentality as a player off the bench.
O’Neale is producing well on offense
At 6’6”, O’Neale is a perfect plug-and-play player for the Nets since he can slot in either a small forward or power forward role. During the periods when Nic Claxton and Cameron Johnson were sidelined, he stepped up as the starting power forward, excelling with impressive shooting and rebounding.
Back to back from ROYC3 pic.twitter.com/gZ6FhfF1RP
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 12, 2023
For the season, he is averaging 8.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game. Nothing truly pops out there but his role as a connecting piece has been amazing. He can make the extra pass at times, but when he’s open, he’s quite reliable with his jump shots.
Nets fans have come to love what they see with O’Neale, especially with his pump fakes. It is a good move to use, especially since the opponents are usually bamboozled by what they’re seeing from O’Neale’s fake.
https://t.co/wAP3rOvJAJ pic.twitter.com/W4Nnsj5u8n
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 12, 2023
Glue guys are needed to succeed in the NBA
As one of the best glue guys in the Nets squad, there is solid potential for O’Neale to contribute to the team’s playoff hopes. He is in the last year of his deal, which means he’s looking to impress to earn another contract from the Nets or other teams.
He fits like a glove with the Nets, as their hard-nosed defender who can also contribute on offense. O’Neale operates as the glue guy who connects everyone on the roster. He can also change plenty of games when he’s given the opportunity to just shoot which is present for him with the Nets moving forward.