Danny Wolf’s Breakout Dunk Signals Arrival in Brooklyn
Every rookie has a moment when the game slows down, the lights feel a little less bright, and they start to believe they belong. For Danny Wolf, that moment came with just over two minutes left in regulation on Monday night.
Brooklyn was clinging to a fourth-quarter lead over the Hornets when Wolf, the 6-foot-11, 252-pound forward, saw daylight. One dribble from beyond the arc, and he was airborne-rising up and throwing down a thunderous right-handed dunk over Miles Bridges, one of the NBA’s premier leapers.
No theatrics, no chest-pounding-just a calm baseline stroll as Barclays Center erupted. The bench went wild.
The crowd lost it. And Wolf?
He looked like he’d done it a hundred times before.
That dunk wasn’t just a highlight-it was a statement. By Tuesday morning, it had landed at No. 3 on SportsCenter’s Top 10. More importantly, it capped off Brooklyn’s first home win of the season and marked the first time Wolf played a significant role in an NBA victory.
“I didn’t know he had it in him, honestly, so it caught me off guard,” said teammate Nic Claxton. “But, I mean, that was a magnificent dunk.”
Wolf’s teammates have been seeing flashes for a while now, but moments like this earn real currency in an NBA locker room. And with his minutes steadily increasing, the Nets-and the rest of the league-are starting to realize what they’ve got in the former Michigan standout.
“I’ve said it multiple times, that Danny is one of my favorite rookies that I’ve ever played with,” said Michael Porter Jr. “From Day 1 in training camp, he surprised me with his ability to handle the ball, the way he moves quick on his feet, the way he can pass, the way he can shoot.
So, being out there with him [tonight] was really, really fun. It was my first time on the floor with him, so I think he’s growing up.”
And while the dunk stole the headlines, it wasn’t even the most impactful part of Wolf’s night.
After a quiet first half and sitting the entire third quarter, Wolf could’ve faded into the background. But instead, he answered the call in the fourth. He poured in all 10 of his points in the final frame, going 4-for-6 from the field and grabbing five rebounds-helping Brooklyn turn a six-point lead into a comfortable 116-103 win.
Usually, this is the time of game when the Nets lean on Porter to close things out. But on Monday, it was Wolf who stepped into the spotlight. He stayed ready, and when his number was called, he delivered.
“It’s kind of the mindset you have to have, especially as a rookie in my shoes,” Wolf said postgame. “Obviously I had a pretty good game against Milwaukee, and coming into [Monday], Mike’s healthy again and you don’t really know what it’s going to look like… You look at that as an opportunity, and [Jordi] is big on opportunities, and just being ready and doing what I can to help the team win.”
For a rookie still carving out his place, Wolf’s performance was more than just a flash-it was a glimpse of what could be. He’s shown he can score, rebound, and now, dunk with authority over one of the league’s most athletic defenders. He’s not just filling minutes-he’s earning them.
And if this is what Wolf looks like when he’s just getting started, Brooklyn might have found something special.