Ben Saraf Drops 40 in G League Showcase, Makes Strong Case for NBA Return
Brooklyn Nets rookie Ben Saraf is starting to find his rhythm-and on Monday night, he made a statement loud enough to echo all the way back to Barclays Center.
After a pair of brief and rocky stints with the Nets earlier this season, Saraf has been logging heavy minutes with the Long Island Nets in the G League, and his latest performance was nothing short of electric. The 19-year-old Israeli guard poured in 40 points on 14-of-26 shooting, including a blistering 6-of-10 from deep, to lead Long Island to a 116-97 win over the Oklahoma City Blue.
Ben Saraf went off for the Long Island Nets at the G League Showcase today:
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) December 22, 2025
40 points
6 rebounds
4 assists
14/26 FG
6/10 3P
3/3 FT
Long Island beats Oklahoma City 116-97. pic.twitter.com/UGRgBLyH68
It wasn’t just the box score that turned heads-it was how Saraf did it. Poised, confident, and in control from start to finish, he looked every bit the NBA-caliber guard Brooklyn hoped for when they selected him 26th overall in the 2025 draft.
“He was composed the whole game,” said Long Island head coach Jordi Fernandez. “He looked like an NBA player out there.
The way he shot the ball, the way he finished-if he converted a few more at the rim, he might’ve dropped 50. But what stood out was how much he helped the team compete and get the win.
Jordi Fernandez on Ben Saraf's 40-point performance in the G League:
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) December 23, 2025
“He looked like an NBA player out there. We watched the game and how confident he was, how he shot the ball... his finishes around the rim. If he had finished a few more at the rim, he could've scored 50." pic.twitter.com/Sj1WP9ymVv
That’s what it’s about, whether you’re in Brooklyn or Long Island.”
That kind of praise doesn’t come lightly, especially from a coach who’s seen plenty of high-level talent pass through the G League pipeline. And for Saraf, it’s a much-needed jolt of momentum in what’s been a rollercoaster rookie season.
With Egor Demin sidelined earlier this year due to a foot injury, Saraf got the starting nod at point guard for Brooklyn’s first five games. But the adjustment to NBA speed and physicality wasn’t smooth. After struggling to find his footing, he was sent down to Long Island for more reps, only to be recalled for another five-game stretch earlier this month.
In total, Saraf has appeared in 10 NBA games, averaging 5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 3.3 assists in just over 10 minutes per contest. The flashes of playmaking are there-he’s shown he can create advantages off the dribble-but the consistency hasn’t followed. His shooting splits (.362/.250/.769) tell the story of a young guard still adjusting to the league’s demands, especially from beyond the arc and around the rim.
The G League has been a different story-at least, at times. Before Monday’s breakout, Saraf was averaging 11.3 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 3.7 assists in 22.3 minutes per game over seven appearances.
The numbers were solid, but not quite headline-grabbing. That changed in a big way against Oklahoma City.
“The shots were falling. I was able to get to the rim and make good decisions,” Saraf said after the game.
“I was really in the flow. The mindset is the same [in the G League]-just go out there and play hard.
The principles are the same as in Brooklyn. It’s just more reps, and I’m trying to take advantage of it.”
One of the biggest question marks surrounding Saraf’s game has been his three-point shooting. Coming into the NBA, he had shot just 27.8 percent from deep across four international seasons.
That trend continued in Brooklyn, where he’s hit just 27.2 percent of his threes. But in Long Island, the script is starting to flip.
Through his G League minutes, Saraf is shooting 44.4 percent from three while attempting nearly seven threes per 36 minutes-a massive jump in both volume and efficiency. Monday’s six triples marked a personal best in any professional game, and they didn’t come easy. He was pulling up in rhythm, spotting up with confidence, and knocking them down from NBA range.
The improvement isn’t by accident. Saraf credits shooting coach Dave Love-better known in basketball circles as “Dr. Love”-for helping him refine his mechanics over the summer.
“I started working with Dr. Love.
He’s really helpful,” Saraf said. “We changed a couple of things with my mechanics, and I’m feeling way better with my shot.”
That work is starting to pay off in real time. And for a rookie trying to carve out a role in a crowded Brooklyn backcourt, confidence is everything.
“I think it helps. Of course,” Saraf said. “To see the ball go through the net and really be able to get a lot of reps and be successful with them-it really helps.”
There’s still a long road ahead. Saraf’s NBA minutes have been inconsistent, and the Nets are in evaluation mode with a number of young guards vying for playing time.
But performances like Monday’s don’t go unnoticed. Saraf showed he can run an offense, score at all three levels, and-perhaps most importantly-lead a team to a win.
That’s the kind of showing that earns another look. And if Saraf can build on this momentum, it might not be long before he’s back in a Nets jersey, this time with a little more confidence-and a much greener light.