The Brooklyn Nets have not had the kind of start to the 2026-27 NBA season that they were hoping for as they sit with an 0-4 record heading into Friday's NBA Cup game against the Detroit Pistons. Brooklyn has been doing what it can to improve to the point that they can start winning some games, but some around the league are down about their performance thus far.
"This is going to be a long, sad season for Brooklyn Nets fans. An 0-4 record to start the year isn't all that surprising, even with the additions of players like Julius Randle, Keon Ellis and No. 6 overall pick Mikel Brown Jr., who's shooting just 28.6 percent overall in his first three games," Greg Swartz wrote of the Nets for Bleacher Report while giving the Nets a "D" grade for their
performance. There have been different reasons for each of Brooklyn's losses and the hope is that they can turn things around sooner than later.
"Yes, the Nets kept it close against teams like the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, although developing the team's young talent is more important than overall record," Swartz continued. "Of the seven first-round picks that Brooklyn has made over the past two years, only one (Brown) is averaging more than 10 points per game to begin the season."
To Swartz's point, the Nets were expected to struggle, especially to begin the season, given the tough start to the season with them facing teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers, Indiana Pacers, and Boston Celtics. However, Brooklyn's narrow losses to the Charlotte Hornets, Cavaliers, and Celtics show that the team can compete, but there are just a few plays they have to be ready to make if they're going to string together wins at some point.
To the point about the development of the younger players on the roster, players like Egor Demin, Mikel Brown Jr., Noah Clowney, and Chaney Johnson have been crucial members of the rotation as of this writing. Time will tell if the Nets are able to turn their season around sooner enough and if the younger players continue to improve, but Brooklyn isn't being looked favorably at this moment in the campaign.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets receive 'D' grade for 0-4 start to 2026-27 NBA regular season
