NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore has been the starting point guard for the past three games due to guard Egor Demin being out of the lineup with a right leg bone bruise. Brooklyn head coach Jordi Fernandez has been experimenting with different lineups and combinations of players, but he took some time to explain what he's seeing from Traore in his second NBA season.
"I think No. 1 is development, and you could see it with the amount of games he played last year, but also development through the summer and how he worked on his body, and then the confidence that he's playing with," Fernandez said of Traore prior to Monday's matchup at the New York Knicks. With Demin out for the time being and rookie Mikel Brown Jr. having his back injury
managed, Traore has had quite the responsibility as the primary point guard.
"You could see it yesterday that he was playing really hard to start. Shots didn't fall for anybody, but he stayed with it, and he made four huge threes that helped us win the game," Fernandez continued. "At the same time, he was touching the paint, spraying the ball, doing all the right things. His growth has been great, but again, it comes with development through playing games. The best coach in the world is playing real games."
Traore, 20, is averaging 10.5 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game while shooting 43.1% from the field and 38.9% from three-point land in 20.8 minutes played per game. Traore has been even better as a starter as he is averaging 13.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.3 steals per game while shooting 44.1% from the floor and 33.3% from behind the three-point line over his last three games.
For Monday's game against the Knicks, Traore will likely be the starting point guard once again, but he should have some help in the backcourt with Brown being able available for the Battle of the Boroughs. Traore will be tasked with having to go against Knicks star Jalen Brunson while also continuing his solid play as of late and it seems like his coach believes he can do that and more.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Jordi Fernandez explains Nolan Traore's growth this season
