Ben Saraf’s rookie season in Brooklyn was rocky, but the Nets guard says the summer has changed the way the game looks to him now.
Saraf, one of Brooklyn’s five first-round picks, put up 7.5 points, 3.3 assists and 2.1 rebounds over 44 games last season, but the numbers came with rough shooting splits: 39.6% from the field and 21.1% from three. For much of the year, the flashes were hard to find. That started to change once coach Jordi Fernández began mixing up rotations and assignments late in the season, giving Saraf more chances to handle the ball and settle in against physical defenses.
That stretch gave Brooklyn a better look at what Saraf can do when he’s not just reacting, but initiating. He posted a career-high 22 points against the Portland Trail Blazers on March 19, then finished the season with four straight games of 15 points or more.
Saraf believes that late-season momentum has carried into his offseason work.
“During my workouts over the past few months, the Summer League and our team practices, I already feel like the game has slowed down for me a bit," Saraf told The Jerusalem Post. "You have to get used to the pace and understand better what’s expected of you. This summer, I’m focusing a lot on improving my shooting, getting stronger physically, learning how to take care of my body and how to prepare for games."
That offseason focus matters because there’s a clear opening in camp. Brooklyn drafted Mikel Brown Jr. with the sixth overall pick in June, and he’s expected to jump right into the starting point guard job.
The Nets also added Keon Ellis, who is a shooting guard. That leaves the backup point guard spot up for grabs when training camp opens in late September.
Saraf will be battling fellow first-rounder Nolan Traoré for that role. The two shared on-ball reps, and both have added needed muscle this offseason while drawing praise from teammate Chaney Johnson. Saraf also has one thing Traoré doesn’t: summer league reps.
Traoré missed the event because of a knee scope, while Saraf got on the floor despite some uneven results. In six summer league appearances, he averaged 10 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists while shooting 37.3% overall. His perimeter shot was better, though, as he hit 33.3% from deep.
That three-point improvement could end up being the difference in a tight competition. For Saraf, the path is straightforward: keep the game slowing down, keep the shot improving, and make it impossible for Brooklyn to look past him early.
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