Julius Randle doesn’t need long to make his point for the Brooklyn Nets. Wednesday night against the Charlotte Hornets gives him a clean stage to do it.
Randle’s preseason with Brooklyn was eye-catching right away, and that early stretch has already nudged expectations upward as the season opens. He’s several years removed from his last All-Star appearance, but if he can push his production back toward what he delivered with the New York Knicks and help the Nets stack wins, there’s a path for him to get back into the midseason conversation for a fourth time.
For Brooklyn, though, the bigger issue is immediate: Randle is being treated as the clear leader, the centerpiece, the player the offense will run through. That means the Nets want to see him establish the tone from the jump in the regular season, especially with his ability to get downhill and pressure the rim.
One of the most natural fits for that role is the pick-and-roll game with Michael Porter Jr. The early signs of that combination looked smooth, and Porter has already spoken openly about wanting to be one of the best off-ball players in the league. That kind of mindset should make the partnership easy to build around.
Against Charlotte, the matchup lines up well for Brooklyn. The Hornets don’t project as one of the NBA’s better rim-protecting teams, which should create space for driving lanes and cutting opportunities throughout the night. That is exactly the kind of opening Randle can exploit, using his size to pound interior defenders and his passing to generate easier shots for teammates.
There’s also another layer Brooklyn needs from him. Beyond the scoring and playmaking, Randle has to serve as the emotional anchor, the veteran voice who keeps teammates accountable and steadies them through the season’s swings.
The turnaround may not be instant, but Brooklyn believes the atmosphere around the group should look a lot better than it did last season. More veteran leadership and more talent are in place now, and Randle is at the center of it.
In Other News...
Nets Fans Will Be Watching One Thing In Mikel Brown Jr's Debut
The Nets are opening the 2026-27 season with a close eye on rookie point guard Mikel Brown Jr., whose debut is arriving with a built-in layer of caution. Brown has been working his way back from an ankle injury, and Brooklyn is expected to ease him into the rotation while he continues to rebuild his conditioning and settle into the pace of the NBA.
Jordi Fernndez has made it clear the plan is to take a measured approach with Browns early minutes, prioritizing health and long-term development over immediate load. For Nets fans, the biggest thing to track wont just be how Brown looks with the ball, but how quickly the team can let him grow into a larger role without rushing the process. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Fans Are Still Waiting For Their Rookie Backcourt Look
The early months of the Nets season have already put a temporary pause on one of the rosters most intriguing ideas. Mikel Brown Jr. is beginning the year off the bench, and Egor Demin will open games next to veteran guard Keon Ellis, even though Brown and Demin flashed real chemistry together in Summer League and during open runs.
For now, Brooklyn is still waiting to see that rookie backcourt take shape in regular-season action. Browns role is being managed as he comes back from an ankle issue, which has limited his minutes, and the bigger picture remains the same: the Nets want those two young guards to grow into a pairing that can share the floor more naturally as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]
Egor Demin Faces One Big Test In Nets Sophomore Year
Egor Demin has spent the offseason and preseason looking like a different version of himself, at least physically, and the early signs have been encouraging for Brooklyn. The Nets guard has added noticeable strength, and both he and coach Jordi Fernandez have pointed to a more confident approach when he gets downhill and tries to get into the paint.
The real examination comes now, once the games start counting and defenders are set to meet him at the rim every night. Brooklyn wants Demin to keep building on that aggression, but the next step is learning how to turn those drives into efficient offense against bigger, stronger resistance, which is where his early progress will either stick or get exposed. [Read more 🡒]