The Nets’ center, Dayron Sharpe, known for his emerging talent, will not return this season.
At 24 years old, Sharpe has been diagnosed with a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb, necessitating surgery after the season concludes.
“He’s okay,” said manager Jordi Fernandez ahead of Thursday’s game in Atlanta. “Of course, we wish he could play. These games and minutes are really important for development.”
“But I’m very pleased with how hard Dayron has worked over the summer and how much progress he’s made. This injury is unfortunate, but we know it can be fixed. We’ll schedule the surgery for after his season is over.”
This is a significant setback for both Brooklyn and Sharpe, who was having a standout season.
He concluded the season with averages of 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.1 steals over 62 games, all of which are career highs. Sharpe was positioned just behind starter Nic Claxton, making his absence a notable loss for the team.
In Atlanta, without Sharpe, the Nets used a makeshift lineup and suffered a 108-97 defeat.
Currently, the Nets (17-49) stand fourth in the lottery rankings, two games behind the Pacers, and 1.5 games behind Sacramento.
Josh Minott shined with 24 points, shooting 4-of-7 from three-point range, marking career highs.
“We’re asking him to apply pressure and play full-court, and he’s been doing an impressive job,” Fernandez said about Minott. “You can see he’s got the size to make a difference, which is promising. I’m eager to see how he continues to progress.”
According to Cleaning The Glass, Sharpe has consistently outscored his opponents by over seven points per 100 possessions, a team best and among the top marks for centers this season.
He’s one of the Nets’ standout players, ranking seventh in the NBA for offensive rebounds and twelfth in steals per 100 possessions.
“He has great size, plays hard, is physical inside, and isn’t afraid to mix it up. He even has the ability to shoot from long range,” said Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff.
“But honestly, what stands out when you watch is his effort. That high energy, combined with his size and skill, makes him a tough matchup.”
Sharpe demonstrated his abilities against Bickerstaff’s Pistons, contributing to a massive comeback. He recorded 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 21 minutes, playing a crucial role, especially in the fourth quarter. However, the ongoing thumb issue limited his minutes in subsequent games.
“I realized he was in discomfort, and when I saw him holding his hand, I decided to pull him in to watch the game, which is when it became clear,” Fernandez explained.
The Nets signed Sharpe to a two-year, $12.5 million contract last summer, which includes $6.25 million guaranteed and a team option for next season. There’s a chance that he could enter unrestricted free agency by summer 2027 unless the team opts to extend his contract.
It would likely be a smart move on their part.
“He’s fantastic,” rookie Danny Wolf said. “Playing with him is a blast. He makes scoring seem effortless and shoots so well from anywhere.”
“He’s exceptional defensively too. He can switch, execute drop coverage—glimpses of his talent shine through daily, proving his value and contributing immensely.”
With no proven backup center for Claxton, Wolfe and the tenacious Josh Minott may need to step up.
In addition to Sharpe, Egor Demmin, Michael Porter Jr., Nolan Traore, and Giare Williams were also on the trip to Atlanta.
For the Hawks, Ben Saraf (10 points), Drake Powell (11 points), Wolf (8 points), Noah Clowney (10 points), and Claxton (8 points) all started as they extended their winning streak to eight.
“It’s an opportunity for everyone,” Fernandez commented. “It’s exciting to see contributions from players who haven’t had extensive playing time.”
