Nolan Traore banks on his speed to establish himself with the Nets

Nolan Traore knows it: speed is his main asset, but it won’t mean anything if he can’t maintain it throughout the season. The French rookie of the Brooklyn Nets, 19th pick in the 2025 Draft, is counting on this primary quality to secure a place in Jordi Fernandez’s rotation.

Having played professionally last year definitely helped, it just made me even more ready for this, says the point guard who developed at Saint-Quentin. This professional experience gives him an advantage over other rookies, even though the NBA pace remains unprecedented for him. I’ve never played this fast, he admits.

A fierce battle at point guard position

Competition looks tough in Brooklyn. With fellow rookies Ben Saraf and Egor Demin (currently injured), three young point guards are competing for playing time. Not to mention Kobe Bufkin, acquired from the Hawks, who can play both guard positions.

For Jordi Fernandez, the challenge with his French rookie is clear: « Coming into the NBA, he’s fast, and he remains fast in the NBA, but he’s going to face guys who are both physical and fast. So how can he maintain that? How can he build physical density? »

The Nets’ Spanish coach sees Traore’s offensive potential: « His drives to the basket aren’t just good for his scoring, but also to collapse the defense and find an open teammate behind the 3-point line on the opposite side of the court. »

« Being the fastest guy on the court »

Asked about his coach’s expectations, Nolan Traore has a clear vision: « (It) simply means I need to be the fastest guy on the court. Every game, and there are 82 of them. That’s a lot, and I just need to maintain my body. »

Fernandez warns that his rookies « will be thrown into the fire. » An approach that could benefit the Frenchman, considered the fastest player among rookies. After a difficult Summer League start (7 points on 30% shooting), Armel Traore’s younger brother hopes to show his true value from the official games.

« I think it’s pretty much the same with every team. We all go through training camps like this », says the rookie, confident in his ability to adapt after his experience in the French championship.