Ben Saraf’s 40-Point Showcase Is a Reminder: The Nets Might Have Something Special
When the Brooklyn Nets used the 26th pick in the NBA Draft to select Ben Saraf, it wasn’t a shot in the dark - it was a calculated move backed by head coach Jordi Fernandez’s belief in the 19-year-old Israeli guard. Fernandez, who’s no stranger to international hoops thanks to his time leading Team Canada, had his eye on Saraf well before draft night. And even when early-season struggles tested that belief, he didn’t waver.
Now, Saraf is giving him even more reason to stay the course.
Two days ago, Saraf erupted for 40 points in the G League Winter Showcase - a statement performance that turned heads and reinforced the potential Fernandez saw months ago. The Nets head coach didn’t hold back in his postgame remarks after Brooklyn’s win over Philadelphia.
“He was composed the whole game,” Fernandez said. “Obviously, he scored 40 points, but he looked like an NBA player out there.
We watched the game and saw how confident he was - how he shot the ball, how he shot the three, how he finished around the rim. If he would’ve finished a few more at the rim, he could have scored 50.”
That’s not just coach speak. Saraf was locked in from the opening tip, hitting 14 of his 26 shots and knocking down six of 10 from deep - all career-highs. He added six rebounds and four assists, rounding out a performance that was as efficient as it was explosive.
But what stood out most to Fernandez wasn’t just the stat line - it was Saraf’s mindset.
“He’s really hard on himself,” Fernandez said. “And that’s why Ben is so great, and he will be a great NBA player.
But I was happy that he helped the team compete and get a win. That’s got to be the main purpose, whether you play here with the Nets or in Long Island - you want to help the team compete and come out with a win.”
This wasn’t a fluke. Saraf’s scoring instincts have been on display before - just not yet on the NBA stage.
Last year, he torched the FIBA U19 European Championship for 28.1 points per game, earning MVP honors. Two years before that, he averaged 24.3 points at the U16 level.
The kid’s been putting up numbers on the international scene for a while now - this latest outburst just happened to come on a bigger stage.
Still, the transition to the NBA hasn’t been seamless. In limited minutes across 10 games, Saraf has averaged 5.8 points, 1.6 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 2.2 turnovers, shooting .362 from the field and just .250 from three. The flashes are there - particularly in his ability to create off the dribble - but the consistency hasn’t quite followed.
That’s where the G League comes in. It’s not just a proving ground - it’s a development lab. And if the Showcase was any indication, Saraf is starting to put the pieces together.
He’s already been called back up to Brooklyn following the performance, though he didn’t see the floor in the win over the Sixers. But if Fernandez’s approach with other young players like Nolan Traore is any indication, Saraf’s opportunity could be coming soon.
At 19 years old, Saraf is the eighth youngest player in the league. The Nets aren’t in a rush - nor should they be.
But with his size (6'7" in shoes), scoring instincts, and growing confidence, there’s a real foundation here. The kind of foundation that, with the right development, could turn a late first-round pick into a long-term piece.
The Nets are still figuring out their identity in this post-superstar era. But if Saraf keeps trending upward, they may have quietly added a key part of their future.