NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets forward Noah Clowney had a breakout season last year as he was put in a position to show how much he improved on both ends of the floor. Brooklyn made some moves this offseason that will likely relegate Clowney to coming off the bench and he explains his mindset heading into his fourth season in the NBA with that in mind.
"To be honest, be a better defender. You bring in more people who are going to have the ball on the offensive end, things like that. So, if you want to get the minutes, do what you do better than the others," Clowney said during his Media Day interview on Monday. Brooklyn's biggest addition this summer was trading for former Minnesota Timberwolves forward Julius Randle, a move that could shake up the entire
rotation for players like Clowney.
"That's the reality. So, guarding, making the shots when they come, not forcing [shots], keeping the offense flowing, simple stuff. But, that's what I worked on [in] my game," Clowney continued. "Obviously all around, but [my] role is gonna change, that's a given. I'm probably not gonna shoot as many shots as I shot last year, we all know that. But, shoot better shots, keep the offense flowing. When your opportunity comes, make the most of it. That type of vibe."
Clowney, 22, is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he averaged 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game while shooting 39.6% from the field and 32.9% from behind the three-point line. Clowney had by far the best season of his career as he started in 60 of the 66 games that he played while averaging 27.0 minutes played per game under head coach Jordi Fernandez.
With Randle being added to the roster, Clowney will at the least be his direct backup with the possibility of playing more minutes than that depending on what kind of look Fernandez is going for. Clowney had the chance to show what he could do last year and now, he has the mindset of doing all of those things and more while contributing in a way that helps the team win more games moving forward.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Noah Clowney discusses his mindset heading in fourth NBA season
