The 3 biggest Nets disappointments so far this season

Almost a quarter of the way through the 2023-24 NBA season, the Nets are 6-7 and on the outside looking in at the postseason. Given the circumstances, Brooklyn is in a relatively mediocre spot, but they could be much better if some of their players lived up to expectations.

It’s not to say that anyone has been particularly ‘bad’ thus far because the team is far from inefficient and hovering around .500. However, there are some disappointing numbers to look at when evaluating these three players for the Nets.

3. Mikal Bridges

It may come as a shock to many people seeing Bridges on this list. The forward, acquired in the Kevin Durant trade last season, has not been bad by any means. He’s averaging 20.3 points on 46.4% FG shooting to go along with 5.8 rebounds and a steal per game.

However, this isn’t a list of the three ‘worst’ players; it’s the most disappointing, and Bridges fits the list. Last season, the former Phoenix Sun averaged 26.1 points in 27 games with the Nets and isn’t repeating the consistency that fans saw in that span.

Perhaps it’s because Bridges is attempting 2.4 fewer shots (18.6 to 16.2) per game, which may not seem like much, but if he’s making two more threes per game, that average shoots to the top 20 in the NBA.

At 6-7, ranking 23rd in defensive rating (115.3), the team also needs Bridges to do more than play solid defense. They need him to be an anchor on the perimeter, but unfortunately, he ranks 154th in defensive win shares (0.081).

Sure, Brooklyn is 10th in offensive rating (114.0), but that’s primarily due to the surprising scoring outbursts from Cam Thomas and Lonnie Walker IV. A player expected to be the best performer of any on this roster, the 6’6″ wing is not excelling in any specific category, making him a disappointment thus far.