The Brooklyn Nets kicked off their 2024/2025 NBA season at home with an impressive win, beating the Milwaukee Bucks 115-102 in a game that showcased the Net's roster depth.
Nets depth
Cam Thomas led the way, dropping 32 points, while Dennis Schroder added 29, helping Brooklyn secure a solid win at home. Five players scored in double digits for Brooklyn, including Cam Johnson, Noah Clowney, and Nic Claxton.
Nets Head Coach Jordi Fernandez earned his first career win as a coach in the NBA and kept the game ball, which he said will be a reminder of where he came from and where he hopes his career will lead.
"I'm going to put it in my office," Fernandez said, "because my wife does a great job decorating the house and she doesn't want my basketball stuff there."
"It's very special to come all the way from starting from the bottom in the NBA, and working really hard and move up, and move up, and some good moments, some tough moments, different teams, friends, memories," he added.
"And it's really cool now you look and you have to enjoy this moment because there's only one time that you're a head coach and win a (first) game.
"On the other end, I also feel like, what's the next step? And we've got to move on to the next thing and I want to be in this league, I want to be with this club for a long time."
Self criticism
On the away end, this was a tough loss for the Bucks, especially since they had their star players, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard, available. Giannis and Lillard combined for 43 points total. Bobby Portis contributed another 16, but it just wasn’t enough to keep up with Brooklyn’s depth.
Khris Middleton wasn't available as he's recovering from an ankle surgery.
After the game, Giannis didn’t hold back on his thoughts about the team’s struggles. “Right now, we don’t have an identity,” he said.
“How are we going to win the game? Are we going to defend for 48 minutes? Are we going to move the ball? We’ve gotta find an identity. We don’t have that right now.”
Giannis had a strong start to the season, where he’s averaging 28.3 points, 12.3 rebounds, and 6.3 assists while shooting 66.7% from the field. Unfortunately that hasn't translated into the team's success.
Coach Doc Rivers also weighed in, admitting that this start hasn’t been what they expected.
“The last two games have been very disappointing. It’s the third game, so you still gotta keep fighting, but these are games you should win,” he said.
Milwaukee will need to make several changes to their current roster if they want to remain competitive in the tough Eastern Conference, led by the defending NBA champions, the Boston Celtics. Once Middleton returns to action, this Bucks team should improve and aim to bounce back after losing to the Indiana Pacers in the first round of last season's Eastern Conference Playoffs.
On the other hand, Brooklyn will be looking to prove the doubters wrong under new coach Jordi Fernandez, who appears to be fostering a strong culture across the bridge from Manhattan.
Celebrity row
Some stars were seated courtside, including WNBA champions Sabrina Ionescu and Jonquel Jones of the New York Liberty, rapper A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, and World Cup champion Iker Casillas from Spain.
