The NBA's grueling schedule shocked Nets’ rookie Danny Wolf, but he's thrived. He is proving to be a productive force and a hidden gem for Brooklyn's future.
The NBA's lengthy 82-game season and rigorous travel schedule shocked Brooklyn Nets rookie forward Danny Wolf, who is accustomed to college basketball's shortened season.
However, it hasn't affected a productive year for the rookie.
Wolf appeared on episode 13 of the Nets Pod, hosted by Sarah Kustok on the Brooklyn Nets YouTube channel, and he reflected on his season with the Nets. He said the season's been awesome, and the travel stories he's heard about the league hold some truth.
"When you hear these stories, they'll tell you that you sometimes won't know where you wake up, and you're like, 'No way, that can't be true,'" Wolf said. "And then you're kind of in the nuts and bolts of the season, and it seems as if that definitely holds true."
The travel schedule is difficult for most NBA players, but some of Wolf's best performances happened away from the Barclays Center.
Wolf recorded his second-highest scoring game, scoring 22 points on 8-for-16 shooting in Milwaukee against the Bucks in November.
Brooklyn's 27th pick has stepped up in the midst of the team struggling with injuries to forward Michael Porter Jr. and guard Egor Dëmin.
Wolf is averaging 10.3 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 22.8 minutes in March.
A key factor in Wolf's ascension is the time he spent with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn's G League affiliate.
He took the increased opportunity at the beginning of the season with Long Island and dominated in his appearances, averaging 20.3 points and 10.3 rebounds.
"I realized that at the time I was probably not going to play much at the start of the year," Wolf said. "It was definitely an opportunity for me to go and get better at the things the coaching staff wanted me to get better at."
Wolf's time with the G League affiliate helped develop him into the solid rookie that coach Jordi Fernández can deploy on the court. Fernandez finds Wolf's size useful when Brooklyn needs help rebounding.
He is 6-foot-11 and provides a stable presence in the paint with his 4.9 rebounds across the season. Fernández also noticed improved defense from his rookie, complementing Wolf's switchability for a player of his size.
"I think his size matters," Fernández said in his press conference on Jan. 18 after losing to the Chicago Bulls. "Just to switch with size, but also smart plays. He's done a great job keeping his body in front of the ball and not getting blown by."
The Brooklyn Nets discovered a hidden gem in Wolf, a late first-round draft pick. The time spent in the G League has helped develop his game.
Although the NBA's travel schedule is rough, it hasn't affected Wolf's productivity in trying to help the Nets win games.
However, his productive rookie year is on hiatus after suffering a left ankle sprain in Brooklyn's loss against the Sacramento Kings last Sunday.
He missed the team's back-to-back against the Portland Trailblazers the following night and will miss the matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday.
Wolf is considered day-to-day with his injury, and the Nets cannot afford to lose out on his production with the ongoing injuries they have.
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