Brooklyn Nets Poised to Field Youngest Roster in NBA History
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The Brooklyn Nets will open training camp this week with a roster that could become the youngest ever assembled in the NBA, following an unprecedented haul of five first-round picks in the 2025 draft.
General manager Sean Marks used selections in June to add Egor Demin (No. 8), Nolan Traoré, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf. “We’ve never had five picks in one draft,” Marks said over the summer. “It was something we wanted to capitalize on, especially given where we see these young men fitting into our roster.”
Demin Headlines New Class
Demin, a 6-foot-9 guard from BYU and a 19-year-old native of Russia, impressed in Las Vegas with his perimeter shooting. His playmaking opportunities were limited because Brooklyn’s Summer League roster featured several lead guards.
Development Path for Other Rookies
Traoré, Powell, Saraf and Wolf may open the season with restricted minutes and could spend stretches with the club’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets. “As a point guard, it’s important to learn what everybody likes and start building the team the right way,” Traoré said of the upcoming preseason.
Historic Youth Movement
If the roster remains intact through opening night, Brooklyn is positioned to surpass the 2022-23 Houston Rockets as the youngest team in league history. Beyond the five newcomers, the Nets recently acquired 2023 first-round pick Kobe Bufkin, who turned 22 today. Holdovers Dariq Whitehead and Noah Clowney are both 21, while forward Fanbo Zeng, expected to sign soon, is 22.
Coaching Challenge for Fernández
Second-year head coach Jordi Fernández, who guided the NBA’s third-youngest squad last season, said player development remains the priority. “That’s definitely on me,” Fernández noted. “The coaching staff has done a great job making our guys work, and those guys have improved. We believe the rookies will do the same.”
The Nets will begin evaluating their new core when camp opens later this week.
Source: Hoops Rumors
