Brooklyn rolled to a 123-88 preseason win over Hapoel Jerusalem as Jordi Fernández opened his second Nets season with a wide rotation and relentless full-court pressure. Saraf stood out with a calm, capable floor game, Porter Jr. provided scoring and leadership, and Mann led all scorers with 15 while Claxton added a solid two-way performance. The win underscored Brooklyn's depth and the high upside of its rookie group as it heads to Macau to face Phoenix.

In a game that emphasized pace and distribution (31 assists on 49 made baskets), the Nets leaned into youth even as they balanced the lineup with veterans. Traoré flashed burst, Wolf showed versatility, and the entire rookie group — Saraf, Traoré and Wolf — offered a glimpse of long-term upside amid growing pains. Injuries kept Demin, Powell and Highsmith out, reinforcing Fernández’s plan to play every healthy body.

Brooklyn Nets open camp with Ben Saraf and Terance Mann in the starting five alongside Cam Thomas, Michael Porter Jr., and Nic Claxton, signaling a blend of youth and veteran scoring around Claxton as Egor Demin deals with a plantar fascia injury that muddies early rotation. The preseason test against Hapoel Jerusalem offered a first look at minutes and fit, with camp battles shaping up for the guard and power-forward spots.

Jordi Fernandez enters his second Nets season balancing accountability with opportunity as three rookie point guards—Egor Demin, Nolan Traore, and Ben Saraf from the 2025 Draft—compete for minutes. Brooklyn also eyeing Kobe Bufkin as a potential contributor, while Fernandez leans on development to accelerate young players. The camp battle will shape Brooklyn’s guard future and testing ground for the coaching staff’s growth-first philosophy.

Past success under Fernandez is highlighted by Keon Johnson, Noah Clowney, and Tyrese Martin posting career-best seasons, a sign that his approach to player development can unlock elevated performance. The Nets’ path hinges on identifying a lead guard from camp and building around him as they press toward playoff contention.