In the Nets’ preseason opener against the Charlotte Hornets, Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle assisted each other on first-quarter 3-pointers, offering an early glimpse of how much easier scoring could become for a team that struggled to find it last season.
Wednesday’s rematch at Barclays Center opens a season of greater expectations. After finishing 20-62, Brooklyn enters 2026-27 with a revamped roster, two established scorers and a demand to compete every night.
The Nets finished last in the NBA in offensive rating at 108.7 points per 100 possessions. In four preseason games, they led the league at 120.3, with Randle’s scoring and playmaking helping ease the burden on Porter, who averaged 24.2 points last season.
Only 9% of Porter’s 3-point attempts were wide open, the lowest share among 307 qualified players. Randle, a three-time All-Star, had 19 assists in four exhibitions. Eight of Porter’s 18 assisted preseason baskets came from his new teammate.
Entering his third season as Nets head coach after securing a contract extension over the offseason, Jordi Fernández wants more time to build on those connections
“I don’t have all the answers,” he said Tuesday. “I think we’ve done well with what we’ve done. We still need more reps together. You have to walk the walk.”
Brooklyn also needs stops and rebounds. It ranked 26th in defensive rating last season and last in rebounding at 39.3 per game. The Nets remained last on the glass during preseason, when their transition defense faltered again in a 144-128 loss to the Miami Heat.
Fernández believes his players understand their responsibilities. Now they have to sustain the effort.
“Just to be the hardest playing team. And that’s our goal for 82 games. That’s a must, and we cannot fail one time to play as hard as we can,” he said of his emphasis entering the opener.
Egor Dëmin returns stronger and more assertive after an encouraging rookie season. Nolan Traoré has attacked the rim with greater force. No. 6 pick Mikel Brown Jr., whose preseason was delayed by a sprained ankle, scored 15 points in 18 minutes against Miami and remains on a minutes restriction.
Keon Ellis started all four exhibitions alongside Dëmin, Porter, Randle and Day’Ron Sharpe. With Brown building his workload and Noah Clowney adjusting to a bench role, Fernández is still sorting through combinations he can trust.
Charlotte has changed, too. LaMelo Ball’s departure leaves Brandon Miller at the center of its offense, with Randle’s former teammate Naz Reid in the frontcourt. Brooklyn won their preseason meeting 124-90, but the Hornets were missing several rotation players.
Ellis sees the rematch as a measure of Brooklyn’s progress.
“And tomorrow will be another test to see how we have improved since then,” Ellis said. “So, I think that’ll be the thing we take away from the game the most.”
For Brown, Wednesday brings a milestone. His earlier visits to Barclays Center included draft night. Now he’ll finally take the court for an NBA regular-season game.
“It’s going to be surreal running out that tunnel tomorrow,” Brown said Tuesday. “But once you step on the court, everything goes away, I’m just ready to hoop.”