Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle are wasting no time showing Brooklyn what this partnership can look like.
Through the Nets’ first three preseason wins, the offense has come out sharp, and Monday’s 131-point outing against the Washington Wizards was the latest example. Brooklyn piled up 29 assists, moved the ball cleanly, and kept finding open shots. A big reason why: Randle operating as the connector and Porter finishing plays.
Randle had nine assists in the first half alone, repeatedly getting downhill before spraying the ball out to the perimeter. That created clean looks for Noah Clowney and Porter, with Porter cashing in as the game’s leading scorer. He finished with 22 points on 8-of-13 shooting, including two 3-pointers.
The fit between the two was one of the main questions after Brooklyn acquired Randle in a trade, and early preseason results have only strengthened the idea that it can work. Randle’s power as a driver pulls defenses inward.
Porter’s value as a catch-and-shoot threat stretches them back out. When one bends the floor, the other is ready to punish it.
That chemistry has shown up quickly, with Porter already benefiting from Randle’s passing touch. It’s not just about points, either. Randle is also already making his presence felt as a veteran voice and tone-setter.
After Brooklyn’s second win, head coach Jordi Fernández praised what Randle has brought to the group.
"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."
Randle has been open about the bigger picture, too. Even though most projections have the Nets near the bottom of a loaded Eastern Conference, he has talked about wanting to surprise people.
At Brooklyn’s recent media day, when he was asked about his former team, the New York Knicks, winning the title this past season, he said "It was a great thing not just for them, for the city... We plan to do the same thing here."
A championship run is a long shot for this roster, but the standard Randle is setting is already clear. His energy, competitiveness, and willingness to set the tone have stood out early, and that matters for a team trying to establish a new identity.
It could also matter a lot for Porter. After a difficult season last year, he admitted he struggled to keep his intensity at the same level down the stretch.
Having a steady veteran like Randle beside him should help. And if the first few preseason games are any indication, Brooklyn may have found a combination that gives both players exactly what they need.
In Other News...
Nets' Fast Start Is Giving Fans A Reason To Believe
Brooklyn kept its preseason roll going with a 131-122 win over the Wizards, moving to 3-0 while flashing the kind of offensive pace that can make October feel a little more meaningful. Michael Porter Jr. was a steady scoring presence, and the Nets got useful minutes from DayRon Sharpe, Egor Dmin, Keon Ellis and Julius Randle in a game that featured plenty of shot-making on both sides.
The part that stood out most was how Brooklyns second unit changed the feel of the game, helping the Nets separate in a third-quarter stretch that turned a back-and-forth matchup into a more comfortable finish. Preseason results rarely tell the whole story, but for a team trying to build habits and confidence, this was the kind of performance that gives fans something to watch a little more closely. [Read more 🡒]
Nolan Traor Is Turning Up The Heat In Brooklyns Guard Battle
Nolan Traor is starting to make his case the right way for Brooklyn, and preseason has given the rookie guard a chance to show how much his confidence has grown. In the win over Washington, he looked more comfortable as a scorer and a shooter, continuing a steady run of efficient offense over three exhibition games after spending the offseason working on his shot and his finishing.
For a Nets team that has made clear minutes have to be earned, that matters. The guard room is crowded, and Traor is trying to carve out space for himself while competing with Mikel Brown Jr., Egor Dmin and Ben Saraf, so every clean shooting night adds to the argument that he belongs in the mix when the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]
Pacers Just Revived A Look That Will Hit Fans Right In The Past
The NBA is leaning hard into its ABA past this season, and the throwback rollout has a little extra relevance for Brooklyn fans who still remember where this franchise came from. As part of a leaguewide celebration of the 50th anniversary of the ABA-NBA merger, the four former ABA teams will wear new classic edition jerseys and play on matching courts that nod back to the leagues red, white and blue era.
For the Nets, the visual is more than a nostalgia exercise. The design reaches back to the clubs earlier identity and fits into a broader tribute that also includes new looks for the Spurs, Pacers and Nuggets, with each franchise using uniforms and court details to reconnect with its own history. It is the kind of detail that can make an ordinary regular-season night feel a little closer to the franchises roots, even before the ball is tipped. [Read more 🡒]