NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets center Day'Ron Sharpe is in position to be a starter for the first time in his career as the Nets are still in the midst of its rebuild. Brooklyn traded longtime starting center Nic Claxton to the Chicago Bulls this offseason, putting Sharpe as the man in the middle and he explained what his expectations are for this upcoming season.
"Personally, I feel like I played against starters last year as well. Sometimes during the game, when I come in the game, they [the opposing team] [were] putting the more physical guy in the game to deal with me," Sharpe said during his Media Day interview on Monday. Throughout the course of last season, Sharpe had his moments where he was selected for spot starts and he played well in those
circumstances.
"So, [I'll] just do my thing and just keep playing hard. Even if it's double the minutes, [I have to] learn how to pace myself during the game," Sharpe continued. "[I'm] learning what opportunity to take, not getting in foul trouble [so that I'm] saving myself for later on in the game. But, I'm just gonna play hard and until the wheels fall off. It's all I can do.
Sharpe, 24, is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he averaged 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting 60.1% from the field and 67.8% from the free-throw line. In his seven games as a starter last season, Sharpe notched 11.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 3.6 assists per contest while shooting 59.3% from the floor and 60.9% from the charity stripe.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez has not divulged what the starting lineup will be when the Nets open the preseason next week against the Charlotte Hornets, but it's safe to say that Sharpe will be one of the starters. With that being said, Sharpe is not only looking to play the way that he always has, but he's also trying to improve in the areas of his game that will allow him to stay on the floor for longer periods of time given his new role.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Day'Ron Sharpe explains his expectations of himself this season
