Brooklyn Nets: Dzanan Musa assigned to Long Island
By Phil Watson
According to a report Sunday, the Brooklyn Nets have assigned first-round pick Dzanan Musa to their G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets.
Rookie Dzanan Musa was assigned Sunday by the Brooklyn Nets to their affiliate in the G League, the Long Island Nets, according to a report.
Musa, taken 29th overall by the Nets in June, is not currently in coach Kenny Atkinson’s rotation and has played in just two of Brooklyn’s first five games, getting some late minutes in lopsided games against the Indiana Pacers and Cleveland Cavaliers on the Nets’ recent road swing.
Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported the move:
It’s not unexpected that Musa would be sent to Uniondale at times this season. The 19-year-old Bosnian guard has some serious offensive potential with a quick first step off the dribble, but needs to work on strength and learning the American style of play.
In 10 minutes of action this season, Musa has four points, two rebounds, an assists and two steals, shooting 2-for-5/0-for-2/0-for-2.
Musa made himself available for the draft this year after playing three seasons with Cedevita, a professional club in Croatia, where last season he put up 12.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals in 23.1 minutes per game, shooting .470/.313/.804.
He mostly came off the bench for Cedevita, starting 14 of the team’s 71 games across competition in the Adriatic League, the Croatian A-1 circuit and in the Eurocup.
After the draft, Musa was held out of the NBA Summer League after playing a career-high 71 games and 1,642 minutes last season.
Musa returned to action in September with the national team for Bosnia and Herzegovina in European qualifying play for the 2019 FIBA World Cup of Basketball. He played in two games, injuring his right ankle late in a loss in Sarajevo to the Czech Republic.
He was the starting point guard for Bosnia in the tournament and in six games has averaged 15.2 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.5 steals in 31 minutes per game, shooting .375/.231/.636.
Bosnia and Herzegovina will complete pool play in the qualifying tournament on Nov. 30 against Bulgaria and Dec. 3 against Finland, but it is unlike Musa will play — NBA teams are not required to release players for international competition during their regular season.
The Long Island Nets opened training camp last week and will open their regular season on Saturday when they host the Westchester Knicks at Nassau Coliseum in Uniondale.