Nolan Traore Emerges as Brooklyn Nets' Most Improved Player Ahead of Ben Sharaf's Second NBA Season

Ben Sharaf, who started in the Brooklyn Nets' lineup during his rookie NBA season in October 2025 and finished as the team's primary point guard, faces a different challenge in his second year. The Nets recently drafted promising point guard Michael Brown Jr., setting up a competition for backup point guard minutes alongside French teammate Nolan Traore, who was selected just before Brown in the draft.

In recent weeks, footage showed Traore significantly stronger, and Nets forward Chainey Johnson praised him in an interview. When asked who improved the most among the Nets' 2025 rookie class (excluding Igor Dyomin), Johnson said, "Honestly, I have to say Nolan Traore. Everyone got better, but Nolan is a different player today. He really bulked up. You see him walking around in a sleeveless hoodie, looking at his forearm, you get it?"

Johnson also noted improvements in other rookies: Drake Powell, Danny Wolf, and Ben Sharaf, highlighting Wolf's increased mobility and confidence in practice. Traore missed the Summer League due to knee injury recovery but is expected to be fully fit for training camp in a few weeks. Traore ended his rookie season averaging 8.9 points (38.0% FG, 31.8% 3PT) and 3.8 assists, while Sharaf averaged 7.5 points (39.6% FG, 21.1% 3PT) and 3.3 assists.

Sharaf told Sport Channel he also focused on physical conditioning over the summer, gaining muscle mass. Starting October, he anticipates a serious internal competition for playing time within Brooklyn's roster.