Ben Saraf and Drake Powell are entering their second NBA seasons with plenty to prove. At Nets Media Day, the young guards opened up about their offseason growth, the impact of Brooklyn’s veterans, and what they’ve already seen from rookie Mikel Brown Jr.
The Brooklyn Nets are heading into the 2026-27 season with plenty of competition for playing time, and Ben Saraf and Drake Powell believe that competition can help push the team forward.
Saraf and Powell spoke with reporters together Monday at Nets Media Day, discussing their offseasons, the competition for minutes, the impact of Brooklyn’s veteran additions, and what they have seen from fellow rookie Mikel Brown Jr.
For both players, consistency was a major focus throughout the offseason.
Powell said he spent the summer balancing time with his family while continuing to work on his game, including spending time in the weight room and participating in live play.
“I think a good blend of basketball, spending time with your family,” Powell said. “Just a good combination of in the weight room getting stronger and the live play that we've been doing has been great.”
The Nets will have plenty of competition for minutes this season, particularly among their young players. Saraf is part of a crowded group of young guards, while Powell will have to compete with veterans such as Terance Mann and Keon Ellis for opportunities in the backcourt.
Rather than viewing that competition as a negative, both players see it as something that can benefit Brooklyn.
“For me, I think it's only going to help for the team,” Saraf said. “It's always good when you have a healthy competition. I think it pushes everyone to be their best version of themselves.”
Powell agreed, saying the competition will make the team better and prepare everyone for the challenges of the regular season.
The Nets also have more veteran leadership in the locker room this season after adding players such as Julius Randle, Ellis, and Mo Wagner.
Saraf said the veterans have already brought a level of maturity that the team was missing last season, particularly pointing to Randle's experience with winning teams.
“He's kind of teaching us and showing us how he sees things,” Saraf said of Randle. “I think they're bringing a lot of maturity to our team, something that we've been missing last year.”
Powell recalled a moment in practice when Randle emphasized the importance of valuing every possession and understanding how quickly a game can change.
That type of experience could be particularly valuable for a young Nets roster that is still trying to take the next step.
The two young players also discussed Brown, the No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft, and the impression he has already made inside the organization.
Powell said he knew Brown somewhat before the two arrived in Brooklyn because of the high school camps they attended together. He described Brown as “very mature for his age” and believes his voice will be heard as training camp gets underway.
Saraf had a similar assessment, saying Brown does not act like a typical rookie and has already shown a willingness to communicate with his teammates.
“He's very talkative. He's very communicative to everybody,” Saraf said. “He's not shy. He's great so far.”
With training camp set to begin, Saraf and Powell will have plenty of opportunities to compete for bigger roles. For now, though, both appear focused on the same thing: continuing to improve and allowing the competition within Brooklyn's young roster to make everyone better.
