Brooklyn originally brought in the former Toronto Raptors veteran to boost the defense. But he became a sudden scoring option despite the loss.
The Brooklyn Nets rolled into Rocket Arena bound to hand Ochai Agbaji more minutes for his second-ever appearance with the team.
But the former Toronto Raptors veteran who arrived as an NBA Trade stepped into rare territory: Becoming the second-leading scorer. And he pulled off the feat while sharing the court with rookie sharpshooter Egor Demin and lead scorer Michael Porter Jr.
Agbaji dropped 13 points on the Cleveland Cavaliers -- his best output since Jan. 16 against the Los Angeles Clippers while with Toronto. He emerged as one of the few highlights for Brooklyn -- because the Nets took a massive 114-82 road loss on Thursday.
Agbaji, though, took the loss as a positive step in the direction he wants to go in with Brooklyn.
"I feel like the style and the way we play really fits me well. I fit into it well with what we're doing offense and defense," Agbaji said via the YES Network after the defeat.
He also believes he meshes well with head coach Jordi Fernandez.
"What Jordi is preaching to us all aligns with what I try to bring," he said.
The Cavs, though, became a major test out the gate for Agbaji's Nets career.
"Obviously their pace and intensity they play with, plus their physicality on the offensive and defensive end negated what we were trying to do and the pace we tried to play with," he said. "We also have to match that physicality. That's what we have to do each and every game."
Agbaji trailed lead scorer MPJ and his 14 points. Though he earned 28 minutes on the floor, 12 more than the action he received on Feb. 11 against the Indiana Pacers. He felt this time he got into more of a flow.
"It felt good to see the ball go in and get some rhythm with my teammates. This was the first time I got to see forming and rolling with them," Agbaji said.
Despite the loss, one of the newest members of the Nets at the trade deadline is energized about moving forward with the franchise.
"I'm excited about what we can do and the style we play is very unselfish. That's kind of the player that I am so I fit into that well," he said.
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