The Brooklyn Nets are still searching for a spark as they navigate a tough early-season stretch, and Sunday’s matchup against the Milwaukee Bucks won’t make things any easier-especially with another young piece sidelined.
Rookie guard Ben Saraf has been ruled out for Sunday’s game due to illness, the team announced Saturday. It’s a bit of a curveball, considering Saraf had just been on assignment with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, and was already unavailable for Friday’s loss to the Mavericks. The illness appears to have developed recently, adding another wrinkle to Brooklyn’s already thin backcourt rotation.
Saraf, just 19 years old, has been one of the more intriguing storylines for Brooklyn this season. He’s bounced between the NBA and G League, showing flashes of potential on both stages.
In six games with Long Island, he’s averaged 12.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game while shooting a respectable 40% from the field and 36% from deep. Those numbers suggest a player who’s still raw but clearly has the tools to develop into a reliable contributor.
At the NBA level, Saraf’s role has been more limited, but not insignificant. In 12 appearances, he’s posted 5.4 points, 1.6 rebounds, and 2.8 assists per game, though his shooting splits-35.5% from the floor and 27.3% from three-highlight the growing pains that often come with adjusting to the league’s speed and physicality. Still, there was a stretch earlier in the season where Saraf found himself in the starting lineup, a nod to both his promise and Brooklyn’s willingness to develop young talent in real time.
With Saraf now sidelined, head coach Jordi Fernandez will need to lean on other young guards to fill the void. That likely means expanded roles for Tyrese Martin, Danny Wolf, and Nolan Traore, all of whom have seen varying degrees of action this season.
Traore, in particular, is a name to watch. He was recently recalled from the G League after a strong run of performances and logged nine minutes in Friday’s loss to Dallas.
While his time on the court was limited, he’s shown enough flashes to warrant a longer look, especially with Brooklyn still trying to piece together a consistent second unit.
Sunday's game could offer just that opportunity. With Giannis Antetokounmpo ruled out due to a calf strain, Milwaukee will be missing its centerpiece, potentially leveling the playing field a bit for Brooklyn. That opens the door for Fernandez to experiment with his rotation and give Traore and others a chance to step up.
Brooklyn’s record may not reflect it right now, but this season is as much about development as it is about wins and losses. With Saraf out, it’s another reminder that opportunity often comes in unexpected ways. For players like Traore, Martin, and Wolf, Sunday could be one of those moments to seize.