In a best-case state of affairs, it’d be only a one-game want for the Nets.
They’d get Cam Thomas — who missed Tuesday’s win with decrease again tightness that head coach Jordi Fernandez known as “nothing major” — again of their lineup Friday and wouldn’t begin Jalen Wilson.
However within the context of Wilson’s trajectory, as a former second-round choose in his second NBA season, his manufacturing in opposition to the Hornets offered a optimistic step in his improvement.
He scored a season-high 17 factors whereas connecting on a career-best 5 3-pointers, as his work in that space — which began when Brooklyn added him in final yr’s draft — lastly paid off.
And as a younger ahead on a rebuilding crew with a membership choice for subsequent season, his position may solely proceed to develop when starters carrying extra worth probably are dealt earlier than February’s commerce deadline.
“Staying in the gym, no matter how high or low a day is, you got to continue to work, continue to put the shots up,” Wilson mentioned postgame. “Like I said, just … knowing the shots are gonna go in, and being ready for the shot. We have so many great playmakers on our team, so just being ready to shoot at all times has been helping me.”
Throughout his rookie season, Wilson averaged simply 1.7 3-point makes an attempt per sport, however that quantity has ballooned to three.7 one month into the 2024-25 marketing campaign.
Whereas he’s labored on his 3-point shot, he has centered in video games on attempting to drive and power defenses to break down — liberating up area for different shooters.
However in opposition to Charlotte, the Nets wanted Wilson to make these photographs.
He didn’t notice he had set a brand new profession excessive in the course of the sport. It wasn’t till afterward — and “it was cool to do,” Wilson mentioned.
He, together with the remainder of the Nets, struggled early and fell right into a 17-point gap, however after being held with out a shot within the opening body, Wilson tried eight within the second quarter and sank three of them, together with a pair of 3s.
Early within the second half, Wilson hit a shot from past the arc to present the Nets their first lead.
He buried one other one later within the body, too, and added a pair of 3s early within the fourth to maintain them inside putting distance.
As a result of Thomas didn’t seem on the unique damage report earlier than steadily getting downgraded all through the day, Wilson didn’t know in regards to the begin till proper earlier than tip-off.
Positive, he’d performed half-hour in a sport earlier than this season. Positive, he’d already hit 16 factors, too — however each of these occurred within the opener.
This time, and for simply the fourth time in his profession, Wilson earned a begin.
And if the Nets ever want him there once more, perhaps on Friday relying on Thomas’ outlook, his efficiency mirrored a capability to deal with the elevated position.
“After that rocky start,” Fernandez mentioned, “he was really, really good.”
