NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore had a rookie season where he showed what's unique about his game and also what he needs to work on to be a productive NBA player. Brooklyn had their idea of how Traore could improve from his first NBA season and he explained what he focused on so that he could be the best version of himself this year.
"I spent a lot of time in the gym during the summer, that was the main focus. It's going to help me for basketball, for sure. It was just a good thing for me," Traore said during his Media Day interview on Monday. Based on Brooklyn's training camp roster, Traore gained 10 pounds and one inch in height as he went from 180 pounds to 190 pounds and from 6-foot-3 to 6-foot-4.
"For me, it was more the physical
aspect. Obviously, the shooting, too, that was kind of it. I worked a lot on it and I feel good now. I changed a few things, too. I'm just ready now for next season," Traore continued. Traore has an interesting opportunity ahead of him as he could be the starting point guard for head coach Jordi Fernandez to begin the season, but that will depend on how he performs during training camp.
Traore, 20, is coming off a 2025-26 season in which he averaged 8.9 points, 1.8 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 38.0% from the field and 31.8% from behind the three-point line. Traore will be competing with Mikel Brown Jr., the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, and Ben Saraf, the No. 26 pick in the 2025 draft, for the starting point guard spot and just playing time in general.
Brown is dealing with a left ankle injury so he may not be in position to gain ground in the competition while Saraf is likely going to be relegated as the third point guard and could be looking at potential G League assignments. Either way, Traore knew that he had some work to do following his rookie year and he not only knew what he had to work on, but he took it upon himself to go beyond that this offseason.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Nolan Traore discusses offseason work on his body, overall game
