The Brooklyn Nets found themselves in a predicament at the start of the 2021-22 NBA season. Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving were all supposed to take the court together as Brooklyn’s Big Three, but Irving (and New York City’s vaccination mandate) derailed those plans. Over a month has gone by since the start of the regular season, and Irving is still nowhere to be found.
That situation has altered the course of the Nets’ season so far. Expected to boast a starting lineup of four All-Stars, Brooklyn wasn’t thought to have to rely on role players. But that’s what’s happening. Players like LaMarcus Aldridge and Patty Mills have been incredible, but those two veterans aren’t the only ones who can make a strong impact off the bench as the season progresses.
The Nets have had three rookies take the court thus far. Brooklyn is in the works of forming a new identity outside of their star-studded leadership group, and as the year wears on, the team will continue to turn to their younger players.
Brooklyn Nets: 3 young players who should earn more minutes
3. Kessler Edwards
Kessler Edwards spent three years at Pepperdine University before he made the decision to enter the 2021 NBA Draft without an agent. The Nets took him with the 24th pick in the second round. The 6-foot-7 small forward is on a two-way contract with the Long Island Nets, but has the potential to get regular time with the NBA roster.
Edwards is averaging 13 points and 7.5 rebounds in four games with the Nets G League affiliate. He scored a season-high 24 points for Long Island in a Nov. 10 win over the Capital City Go-Go.
Though he’s played in just nine minutes of Brooklyn’s 117-99 loss to Golden State, he shot 3-of-6 from the field, including 2-of-4 from the 3-point line, to score eight points. That was the only time that he’s played in a game for the Nets, but with the team’s lack of depth at the forward position, Edwards could be finding his way on the court more.
Brooklyn’s been hit with a few injuries early on in the year, so that factors into the probability of Steve Nash recalling Edwards from Long Island. So far, he’s only appeared in “garbage time” for the Nets, but that could change. His development in the G League is important, and who knows, maybe he will find himself stepping into a larger role with Brooklyn and contributing for a title-contending squad.