Noah Clowney is heading into a season that could have easily been dominated by contract talk. Instead, the 22-year-old forward is keeping the focus where he wants it: on his game.
Clowney enters the final year of his rookie deal without an extension after the offseason, but he says the contract side of things is not where his attention is. He’s concentrating on improving and helping the Brooklyn Nets win, and that growth will come with a different look this year now that veteran forward Julius Randle is in the mix after a four-team trade.
That change matters for Clowney’s role. After starting a career-high 60 games last season and averaging 12.3 points in 27 minutes, he now has to prove he can deliver in a smaller role off the bench behind Randle. Coach Jordi Fernández and the organization will be watching to see whether he can make that adjustment without losing his edge.
So far, the early signs have been encouraging. In four preseason games, Clowney looked like a player ready to handle the shift, averaging 9.8 points, three rebounds and 1.3 steals in 20.8 minutes. He also drilled 60% of his three-pointers, which stood out as the clearest sign of progress in his offensive game.
That shooting development could be especially important for Brooklyn. The Nets finished tied with the Sacramento Kings for the league’s worst 3-point percentage last season at 34%, and they need more spacing to make the most of Randle’s playmaking. If Clowney can turn himself into a league-average shooter, he’d strengthen his case as a steady part of Fernández’s rotation.
For now, the path is simple. Take the open looks when they’re there.
Defend. Make the most of the minutes that come his way.
Clowney’s situation comes at a time when restricted free agency has already been messy around the league this offseason, with Peyton Watson and Jalen Duren both involved in lengthy negotiations tied to their teams’ financial situations. The Denver Nuggets were in the luxury tax and traded Watson, while the Detroit Pistons weren’t offering a five-year, $200 million contract until Duren’s qualifying offer date was approaching.
Clowney isn’t in that tier, but he remains an important piece of Brooklyn’s young core. He has improved every season, something the Nets haven’t seen in that kind of steady climb since Cam Thomas.
And with a crowded forward group in front of him, Clowney doesn’t have room to fade into the background. He has already made his presence felt in the preseason. Now he has to carry that into the regular season and keep proving he belongs.
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