Nolan Traore Is Making a Case for Bigger Nets Role

Nolan Traoré has given the Brooklyn Nets plenty to think about this preseason. The second-year guard has been one of the team's most productive players in limited minutes, putting himself in the conversation for a bigger role as Brooklyn figures out its backcourt rotation for the 2026-27 season.

Through four preseason games, Traoré has scored 51 points in just 68 minutes while shooting 56.3% from the field. For a player who spent much of his rookie season adjusting to the NBA, it's an encouraging sign of how much progress he has made over the offseason.

Traoré got off to a quick start against the Charlotte Hornets, scoring 10 points on 3-of-4 shooting in just 10 minutes. He followed that performance with 12 points against the Philadelphia 76ers before putting together his best outing against the Washington Wizards, finishing with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, including two three-pointers. He then scored another 12 points against the Miami Heat to close out the preseason.

Across those four games, Traoré has made 18 of his 32 field goal attempts and four of his 11 three-point attempts. He's also recorded five rebounds and 11 assists, showing that he can contribute beyond scoring.

One of the biggest differences has been the confidence with which Traoré is playing. He's looked comfortable attacking defenders, using changes of pace to create space and getting into the paint without appearing rushed. He's also shown more control around the basket, an important area of development for a young guard learning to finish against NBA-level size and length.

His shooting is worth watching, too. Traoré made improving his jumper a priority during the offseason, and he's been willing to take his opportunities from beyond the arc. Four preseason games aren't enough to determine whether his shooting has taken a significant leap, but the early results are encouraging.

Traoré’s strong preseason comes at an interesting time for Brooklyn. Egor Dëmin and Keon Ellis have started the team's preseason games in the backcourt, while Mikel Brown Jr. is another young guard expected to compete for opportunities following his return from an ankle injury.

With several players competing for minutes, Traoré can't afford to slow down if he wants to establish himself in the rotation. The good news for Brooklyn is that he has given the coaching staff another option to consider.

At just 20 years old, Traoré is even younger than Dëmin and Brown. He's still developing, but his preseason production suggests he may be ready for more responsibility than he received during his first NBA season.

That doesn't mean Traoré necessarily needs to crack the starting lineup. He could be particularly useful coming off the bench, where he would have opportunities to handle the ball, run the offense, and provide some much-needed scoring for the second unit.

However, the Nets shouldn't automatically limit him to that role just because of where he stands in the team's current backcourt hierarchy. If Traoré continues to produce, he deserves the opportunity to compete for more minutes based on what he brings to the court.

Brooklyn has several young guards worth developing, and figuring out how they fit together will take time. Brown's potential, Dëmin's development, and Ellis' defensive contributions all factor into the decision. Traoré has made sure his name belongs in that conversation, too.

The next challenge is carrying this momentum into the regular season, when the minutes become more important and opposing defenses have more film to work with. Preseason success doesn't guarantee that his efficiency will continue, but it gives him something to build on.

For now, Traoré has done what he needed to do. He's taken advantage of his opportunities, shown growth in his game, and given the Nets a legitimate reason to consider a larger role for him. How much playing time he ultimately receives remains to be seen, but his preseason performance has made one thing clear: Brooklyn shouldn't overlook him.