Category: Brooklyn Nets Blog

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Nets sign Wenyen Gabriel to a 10-day contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent forward Wenyen Gabriel to a 10-day contract.

Gabriel (6’9”, 205) has appeared in 51 career games (one start) across two seasons with New Orleans (2020-21), Portland (2020) and Sacramento (2019-20), recording averages of 2.6 points and 2.1 rebounds in 9.3 minutes per contest while shooting 41.7 percent from the field. Most recently, Gabriel has appeared in 12 games (10 starts) for the Wisconsin Herd of the NBA G League this season, averaging 13.8 points on 47.5 percent shooting from the field and 38.7 percent shooting from 3-point range, 8.6 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 1.1 steals and 2.0 blocks in 25.8 minutes per contest. He also spent two seasons (2018-20) with the Stockton Kings of the NBA G League.

A native of South Sudan, Gabriel went undrafted in the 2018 NBA Draft after playing two collegiate seasons (2016-18) at the University of Kentucky. In his final season as a sophomore, Gabriel averaged 6.8 points, 5.4 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 23.1 minutes per game while leading the Wildcats in total rejections (40).

NBA postpones five games between December 19-21 for coronavirus reasons

The next games for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Orlando Magic and Philadelphia 76ers, as well as the next two games for the Brooklyn Nets, have been postponed by the NBA because of players and staff members entering the NBA’s Health and Safety Protocols.

The following games are impacted:

Sunday, Dec. 19:
Denver at Brooklyn
Cleveland at Atlanta
New Orleans at Philadelphia

Monday, Dec. 20:
Orlando at Toronto

Tuesday, Dec. 21:
Washington at Brooklyn

Nets sign James Ennis III and Shaquille Harrison to 10-day contracts

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent forward James Ennis III and free agent guard Shaquille Harrison to 10-day contracts.

Ennis III (6’6”, 215) has appeared in 388 career games (140 starts) across seven seasons with Orlando, Philadelphia, Houston, Detroit, Memphis, New Orleans and Miami, recording averages of 6.7 points on 45.7 percent shooting from the field, 36.0 percent shooting from 3-point range and 79.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 20.5 minutes per game. The 31-year-old has also seen action in 22 career playoff games (nine starts), averaging 7.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 23.2 minutes per contest. Most recently, Ennis III appeared in 41 games (37 starts) for the Orlando Magic during the 2020-21 campaign, averaging 8.4 points on 47.3 percent shooting from the field, 43.3 percent shooting from long distance and 80.5 percent shooting from the charity stripe, 4.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 24.1 minutes per game. Ennis III, who has also played professionally in Australia and Puerto Rico, was originally selected by Atlanta with the 50th overall pick in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft before his rights were traded to Miami on draft night. After beginning his collegiate career at Oxnard College (2009-10) and Ventura College (2010-11), the California native enrolled at Long Beach State University (2011-13), where he was named Big West Player of the Year and earned Honorable Mention All-America honors by the Associated Press in his final season with the 49ers before entering the NBA Draft.

Harrison (6’4”, 195) has appeared in 173 career games (23 starts) across four seasons with Denver, Utah, Chicago and Phoenix, recording averages of 5.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 15.2 minutes per contest while shooting 43.6 percent from the field. The 28-year-old split the 2020-21 season between Utah and Denver, appearing in 34 games and posting averages of 2.1 points and 1.4 rebounds in 9.8 minutes per game. Harrison has appeared in and started seven games for the Delaware Blue Coats in the NBA G League this season, averaging 19.6 points on 52.0 percent shooting from the field, 7.0 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.9 steals in 32.2 minutes per contest. He also spent part of his first two professional seasons (2016-18) in the NBA G League with the Northern Arizona Suns. Harrison went undrafted in the 2016 NBA Draft after playing four collegiate seasons (2012-16) at the University of Tulsa, where he earned All-American Athletic Conference Second Team honors as a junior and senior. The Kansas City, Mo., native ranks second all-time in Tulsa history in assists (461) and third in steals (244).

Nets bring back Kyrie Irving, who will only be able to play road games

Official statement from Brooklyn Nets General Manager Sean Marks on guard Kyrie Irving, who currently still cannot play home games at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center due to New York’s vaccine mandate:

“After discussions with our coaches, players and staff, the organization has decided to have Kyrie Irving rejoin the team for games and practices in which he is eligible to participate. We arrived at this decision with the full support of our players and after careful consideration of our current circumstances, including players missing games due to injuries and health and safety protocols. We believe that the addition of Kyrie will not only make us a better team but allow us to more optimally balance the physical demand on the entire roster. We look forward to Kyrie’s return to the lineup, as well as getting our entire roster back together on the court.”

Per the New York Daily News, “news of his return comes as the NBA reels in the wake of the spread of the COVID-19 Omicron variant. Irving, who has opted not to get vaccinated, will return as a second wave of positive COVID-19 cases hits the NBA entering the new year, in particular a Nets team currently missing seven players in the league’s health and safety protocols.”

Nets sign Langston Galloway to a 10-day contract

The Brooklyn Nets have signed free agent guard Langston Galloway to a 10-day contract.

Galloway (6’1”, 200) has appeared in 445 career games (62 starts) across seven seasons with Phoenix (2020-21), Detroit (2017-20), Sacramento (2017), New Orleans (2016-17) and New York (2014-16), recording averages of 8.2 points on 39.8 percent shooting from the field, 37.0 percent shooting from 3-point range and 81.6 percent shooting from the free-throw line, 2.4 rebounds and 1.6 assists in 21.9 minutes per contest. The 30-year-old native of Baton Rouge, La., saw action in 40 games last season with the NBA Finals-bound Suns, averaging 4.8 points on 44.9 percent shooting from the field, 42.4 percent shooting from 3-point range and 95.7 percent shooting from the free-throw line and 1.1 rebounds in 10.9 minutes per game. Prior to signing with Brooklyn, Galloway played in one game with the College Park Skyhawks of the NBA G League this season.

Galloway went undrafted in the 2014 NBA Draft after spending four years (2010-14) at Saint Joseph’s, where he earned All-Atlantic 10 First Team honors as a senior. He finished his collegiate career as the program’s all-time leader in 3-pointers made (343), free-throw percentage (82.1 percent) and minutes played (4,720), while ranking second in career points (1,991) and 3-point percentage (42.6 percent).

G League: Long Island Nets waive Isaiah Wright

The Long Island Nets, the NBA G League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets, have requested waivers on guard Isaiah Wright.

Wright was acquired from the available player pool on Nov. 16 to replace Long Island guard Josh Gray while he played for USA Basketball in the FIBA World Cup Qualifying Games. In two appearances with the Nets, Wright recorded five points, two rebounds and two steals in 29 minutes total.

Blake Griffin out of Nets rotation lately

Veteran Nets big man Blake Griffin is healthy yet has been riding the bench lately. Via ESPN.com:

Falling completely out of the Brooklyn Nets’ rotation was not something Blake Griffin saw coming.

After starting 17 games this season, Griffin has sat the past two games after Steve Nash inserted LaMarcus Aldridge into the starting lineup.

“No, I mean listen, [Aldridge] has been playing unbelievable,” Griffin said. “So, I totally get starting him, especially Joe [Harris] has been out, and I totally get that.

“Being completely out of it, though, I didn’t necessarily see that coming. But that’s not my decision. As players it’s our job to do whatever coaches see best, so at this point that’s what it is.”

The Nets are 14-6 this season, which is the best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2021-22 are Kevin Durant at 28.6 points per game, James Harden at 20.3 ppg, and LaMarcus Aldridge at 13.8 ppg.

Griffin is averaging 5.5 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.0 assists in 21.7 minutes per game.

Nets swingman Joe Harris undergoes ankle surgery

Brooklyn Nets guard/forward Joe Harris underwent arthroscopic surgery today on his left ankle.

The procedure, performed by Dr. Martin O’Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery, involved the removal of a loose body. Harris has missed the past six games since injuring the ankle on Nov. 14 at Oklahoma City.

An estimate return date for Harris isn’t known yet.

Harris currently ranks second in the NBA in 3-point shooting (.466) while averaging 11.3 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 30.2 minutes per contest in 14 games this season.

Nets waive Edmond Sumner

The Brooklyn Nets have requested waivers on guard Edmond Sumner.

Sumner was acquired by Brooklyn in a trade with the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 6. He’s appeared in 108 games (29 starts) across four seasons (2017-21) with the Pacers, recording averages of 5.7 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 14.1 minutes per game. He was originally selected by Indiana with the 52nd overall pick in the second round of the 2017 NBA Draft.

Longtime official Nets scorer Herb Turetzky is retiring

The Brooklyn Nets announced today the retirement of Herb Turetzky after a remarkable 54-year run as the only official scorer in the franchise’s history. In recognition of his years of dedication to the Nets organization, Turetzky has been named official scorer emeritus.

“For 54 years, I’ve had the best seat in the house,” Turetzky said. “It’s been a joy to work with so many incredible people over the years, and I am very proud to be a part of this great organization.”

“We want to extend our sincerest appreciation to Herb for his more than five decades of faithful service to the organization,” said Nets General Manager Sean Marks. “Herb is part of the fabric of Nets basketball, and it’s fitting that he was able to finish his career in his home borough. Herb, his wife, Jane, and their family will always be a part of the Brooklyn Nets family.”

“We are all grateful to Herb for his enduring impact on the Nets organization,” said John Abbamondi, CEO of BSE Global. “For over five decades, Herb had a front row seat to the development and evolution of our franchise, and he will forever hold an unparalleled place in Nets history. We are looking forward to welcoming Herb and the Turetzky family back to Barclays Center this season so he can enjoy his first-ever Nets game as a fan following 54 years of incredible service.”

A native of Brooklyn’s Brownsville neighborhood, Turetzky scored the first game in franchise history, a matchup between the New Jersey Americans and Pittsburgh Pipers of the American Basketball Association (ABA) on Oct. 23, 1967 at the Teaneck Armory, while he was a senior at Long Island University. That game began a career that spanned more than 2,200 games and was eventually certified as a record for professional basketball games scored in the Guinness Book of World Records. Turetzky also worked 1,465 consecutive regular season and playoff games, beginning in the 1984-85 season and concluding in Oct. 2018. Turetzky’s tenure saw him score games in nine home arenas with more than 500 players donning a Nets uniform in that time. He was on hand to score the greatest moments in franchise history, including ABA championships in 1974 and 1976 and consecutive trips to the NBA Finals in 2002 and 2003.

Turetzky has earned a number of honors throughout his career with the Nets, including his induction into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame and the Basketball Old Timers of America Hall of Fame.