We’ll continue to ‘Get to know’ some Brooklyn Nets summer leaguers until they take the floor on July 7th in Las Vegas. Here, we take a look at a current member of the Long Island Nets, J.J. Moore.
Profile
Age: 26
Height/Weight: 6’6″ / 215 lbs
Position: SG/SF
Hometown: Brentwood, NY
College: Pittsburgh (3 years); Rutgers (1 year)
2016-17 G-League Statistics: 26 minutes/game, 14.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 1.2 APG
Draft: Undrafted, current member of Long Island Nets
J.J. Moore will be the oldest player on the Nets Summer League roster. At 26 years-old, Brooklyn is giving Moore the opportunity to prove his worth against players who will be battling for NBA roster spots.
But, only two players from the Long Island team will compete in the Las Vegas Summer League: Moore and Prince Ibeh. Many expected Cliff Alexander to get an opportunity, but he will be playing for the Milwaukee Bucks this summer.
However, Moore has an interesting set of skills that intrigue the Nets. Known as a relentless slasher, the New York native slices his way through the defense every opportunity he gets. He has respectable athleticism, nice length and a good frame for a wing player. The Nets may see him as a potential 3 and D prospect. Here’s a couple quick clips that highlight his athleticism.
His shooting numbers have improved from his college days, which is something we rarely see when transitioning to the pros. As a senior at Rutgers, Moore shot a frigid 28% from three. However, last year for Long Island, he was able to connect on 32% of his attempts from distance. Not a drastic improvement, but improvement nonetheless.
But Moore will have his work cut out for him to earn a spot on a roster full of guards. He will need to show what separates him from the other players on the Nets roster. Will it be defense? Hustle? Offensive firepower? Who knows.
Although, we do know one thing: he’s capable of contributing in a lot of areas on the floor. Not only is he dangerous on the fastbreak, he can score in the post or as a slasher and has shown a willingness to defend.
But his ticket to the NBA will likely revolve around improving two areas: outside shooting and defense.
Yet Moore has the tools to become a solid wing defender in the NBA. More importantly though, he has the toughness and the drive. Many people across the NBA will tell you defense is 90% effort, 10% skill. He doesn’t need to become a ‘lockdown’ defender, but he must show he can defend positions 1-3 during his time in Las Vegas.
However, If he can’t stay in front of guards in the Summer League, he better show-off an ability to shoot from long-range. But the Nets don’t need Moore to become a deadly outside weapon, but if he can knock down the open three with some consistency, he’ll give himself a chance when it’s all said and done.
Last year for Long Island, Moore had multiple strong outings. He posted totals of 36, 29, 28, 23 and many other 20-point performances. While the ability is there, Moore must capitalize on this upcoming opportunity. Check out some of his best games below.
36-point performance vs the Stars
29-point performance vs the Drive
His improvement is encouraging, but at 26, his time is now. This Summer League is his best chance at making an NBA roster. He knows that, and more importantly, the Nets know that.
Next: Nets Summer League: Get to know Prince Ibeh
Moore plays with a chip on his shoulder after being overlooked for most of his basketball career. However, he can prove his naysayers wrong by delivering strong performances in Las Vegas. The Nets won’t overlook anybody during the rebuilding process, especially players on their own Summer League roster.
If Moore makes a significant impact, we’ll have to keep an eye on this space. If the Nets swing and miss on a few free-agent wings, could J.J. Moore get the call? It’s possible. We’ll just have to wait and see.