In just a brief span, spectators caught a glimpse of what they expected from Danny Wolf.
Picked 27th overall, he quickly made his presence felt in Saturday’s preseason opener against Hapoel Jerusalem.
His impressive passing skills were evident when he found Bensalaf, a 19-year-old guard, who made a quick cut to the basket for a layup.
Wolf also delivered a solid dish to Noah Crown, who finished inside for an easy two points, dribbling confidently from the top of the key.
At 6-foot-10, with a wingspan of 7-foot-2¼ inches, as noted during the draft combine, he certainly has an impressive build.
He seemed to know exactly when to seize opportunities while driving toward the basket.
In just 15 minutes of play, he led the second unit with five assists, adding five points and five rebounds, contributing to a 123-88 victory at Barclays Center.
Though he did have a couple of turnovers while handling the ball, Wolf was aware of those setbacks and didn’t want them to define his performance.
“When the coaches put the ball in my hands, it’s on me to play well,” Wolf reflected after the game. “There were a few moments where I could have made better decisions – I turned the ball over a couple of times on screens, but Coach Jordi [Fernández] told me to be aggressive and run the plays, so I’m just trying to leverage my skills.”
This 21-year-old from Michigan was drafted largely for his playmaking and passing capabilities.
He stands out as a prime passing big man in this year’s draft class, averaging 4.2 assists per game during his college season— a solid performance for someone under 7 feet tall.
There’s hope that he can replicate those numbers as he competes for a power forward position, an area the Nets have struggled to solidify for years.
This preseason appearance marked a significant improvement for Wolf since his Summer League games.
In his initial summer game, Wolf recorded two assists but also had four turnovers, scoring only four points.
He explained his nervousness at that stage and made marked improvements in the subsequent games, including a standout showing against the Magic on July 16, where he scored 18 points, alongside four assists and six rebounds in just under 27 minutes.
It seemed like nerves turned into excitement for him during his first game in a Nets jersey at Barclays Center.
“I was feeling a mix of nerves and anticipation before the game. It’s really something special. Sure, it’s just a preseason game, but playing in the NBA arena is a big deal,” he said. “It’s a whirlwind of emotions, but I see it as just the beginning.”
As the NBA season nears, Wolf must continue demonstrating his value while enhancing his defensive skills. He did face some challenges against non-NBA teams from Israel when he showed vulnerability on defense.
He has three more preseason games to solidify his position, with the next match against the Suns coming up on Friday, part of their two-game stint in China.
“With Danny, he needs to be consistent every time he’s on the court. He had some good moments,” Fernández noted post-game. “I was pleased with the performance from both Wolf and Saraf. They’ve taken advantage of their opportunities, and it was a solid first game. We’re looking forward to the next two games in Macau.”
