Israeli Guard Ben Sharaf Struggles to Make Impact in Brooklyn Nets Summer League

Ben Sharaf, the 20-year-old Israeli guard, faced criticism following his performance in the NBA Summer League as he prepares for his second season with the Brooklyn Nets. Despite flashes of his unique talent, Sharaf struggled to establish himself as a consistent threat, particularly from beyond the three-point line and when driving to the basket.

John Hollinger of The Athletic noted that Sharaf "showed glimpses of his left-guard skills but failed to become a significant outside shooting threat and had difficulty penetrating to the rim." Sharaf attempted 36 three-pointers, making 14 (38.9%), but often took difficult shots under defensive pressure. His rebounding rate was 5.7% over six games, which Hollinger described as disappointing for a 1.98-meter guard.

In six Summer League games, Sharaf averaged 10 points, 2.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists, and 1.2 steals, shooting 37.3% overall and 33.3% from three-point range. He came off the bench in four of those games, as Brooklyn favored other young guards like sixth overall 2026 draft pick Agur Demin and Michael Brown Jr., who are expected to lead the Nets' young core forward. Hollinger also suggested that aside from Demin, Brooklyn's five first-round picks in 2025 have not yet yielded significant returns. Sharaf’s future role in the Nets rotation remains uncertain as he works to prove his value at the NBA level.