NEW YORK — Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Saraf is heading into an important second season that could determine whether he will be sticking with the Nets for the entirety of this rebuild. Brooklyn has gone guard-heavy over the past two seasons, including taking guard Mikel Brown Jr. with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, but Saraf is confident in his offseason preparation.
“It’s been great, feeling way better on and off the court, feeling more comfortable here with everybody. On the court, I feel stronger with great work in the gym for me and all the other young guys,” Saraf said to the media after summer league practice on Wednesday. Saraf will be playing with the Nets in both the California Classic and the Las Vegas Summer League and he may have to show something special to earn playing time during next season.
“Of course, my shot, I feel like I’m way better, like better percentage, and feel more comfortable with my shot now,” Saraf said when asked what he has been working on this summer following an up-and-down rookie season. “A lot of ball handling, a lot of work with headset on all the other stuff we need to work on, and feeling good.”
Saraf, 20, ended last season with averages of 7.5 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game while shooting 39.6% from the field and 21.1% from behind the three-point line. Saraf had the chance to be the starting point guard for the first five games of last season, but he largely struggled in that role and put forth just 3.2 points and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 21.7% from the floor.
However, Saraf played much better following an extended stint with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League afiliate, as he averaged 8.4 points, 3.4 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 42.9% from the field and 30.0% from deep in a five-game stint in December. Saraf is also in a position to be competing with Brown, Egor Demin, and Nolan Traore (when he’s able to play) for playing time at point guard, but he sounds like he’s ready for the challenge.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets’ Ben Saraf details his offseason work heading into summer league
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