The Nets’ first two preseason wins have given Brooklyn an early jolt, and Julius Randle is already making his presence felt in the way veteran leaders do best: with production, poise and a willingness to get dirty.
Brooklyn has opened the 2026 NBA Preseason with victories over the Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers, and Thursday’s 114-108 win over Philadelphia stood out even more because the Nets did it with key pieces sidelined. The Sixers’ night also marked the debut of LeBron James and Philly’s star-studded starting five, but Brooklyn still came away with the result.
Five Nets finished in double figures, and Randle led the group with 14 points. Still, it was the effort plays that caught head coach Jordi Fernández’s eye.
"3-time All-Star, has been in the playoffs multiple times, and he’s the first one to dive on the floor and pickup full court," Fernández said. "I couldn't ask for a better leader or a better vet… We need that. That’s contagious."
One sequence in the third quarter summed it up. Randle chased down a loose ball right in front of Brooklyn’s bench, dove to keep possession alive, then got back into the play and finished the possession with a dunk on the other end.
For a player with Randle’s résumé, that kind of hustle sends a message. He is not treating this like a routine stop; he is approaching it like a chance to raise the standard.
That mindset has shown up in his public comments, too. At Brooklyn’s recent media day, when asked about his former team, the New York Knicks, winning the title this past season, Randle said, "It was a great thing not just for them, for the city...We plan to do the same thing here."
That kind of talk might sound ambitious for a team many expect to sit near the bottom of a stronger Eastern Conference. But even if a title run is a long shot, the Nets can still build the habits that matter, and Randle seems intent on pushing that process.
He said the structure and intensity in camp have already stood out to him.
"I'm in my 13th year in the league, and this is the training camp that ranks up there," Randle said. "How we do things, the attention to detail, the communication within drills. And when we get to the live action, how we're competing, how we're talking, guys diving on the floor, offensive rebound, all those different things, little things that help us win games."
Brooklyn’s preseason start is only two games deep, but Randle already looks like the kind of veteran the Nets hoped they were getting.
In Other News...
Egor Demin Is Giving The Nets A Reason To Watch Closely
Egor Demin has already given the Nets a little something to monitor as the season takes shape, and it starts with the way he talks about his role. The young guard-forward has made clear he wants to help in whatever way the team needs, whether that means handling the ball or working alongside another creator, and he has framed his approach around winning rather than chasing numbers. For a Brooklyn group still sorting through its long-term pieces, that kind of flexibility is exactly the sort of trait that can make a prospect stand out.
Coach Jordi Fernndez has noticed the progress, too, pointing to how much Demin has improved since last year and how his voice is starting to carry more weight. That matters for a Nets team looking for players who can grow into bigger responsibilities without needing everything scripted for them. Demin is not the only young player around the league drawing attention for versatility, but in Brooklyn, his development has started to feel like one of the more relevant storylines to keep an eye on. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Fans Are Still Waiting For The First Real Mikel Brown Jr. Look
Mikel Brown Jr. arrived in Brooklyn with the kind of profile that usually gets a fan base dreaming quickly. The No. 6 pick has already drawn praise inside the organization for his leadership and the way he plays, and the Nets see him as a point guard who can help organize the offense with both scoring and passing. He has also been grinding through a demanding daily routine as he works to add the strength needed for NBA contact, a reminder that even top picks often need time before the league fully reveals them.
For now, though, Nets fans are still waiting for their first real look at him in game action. Brown Jr. has been recovering from a rolled ankle, and his participation in the upcoming preseason game is uncertain, which leaves his debut on hold a little longer than anyone around the team probably hoped. The anticipation is part of the process with a young guard like this, but Brooklyn would like to start seeing the shape of what it drafted, especially with preseason opportunities beginning to matter. [Read more 🡒]
Egor Demin Is Forcing A Real Nets Rotation Conversation
Egor Demin has spent Nets training camp and the early preseason making himself part of the conversation, and that alone is a meaningful step after an uneven rookie season. The young guard has shown more comfort, more versatility and a better feel for how Brooklyn wants to play, enough for the coaching staff to note real progress as he works to carve out a larger role.
For a team still sorting out its rotation, Demins growth adds another layer to the decisions ahead. Brooklyn is experimenting with different lineup combinations in the preseason as it looks for ways to maximize spacing and flexibility, and that kind of tinkering can open doors for players who keep stacking good days. The question now is whether Demins momentum holds once the games start to count and the Nets have to settle on who fits where. [Read more 🡒]