The Nets faced the Milwaukee Bucks for the first time after their prolific clash in early November when Cameron Thomas scored 45 points in a losing effort. This late December game was quite different as most of the Nets starters were sidelined due to injury maintenance and rest.
With the starters not playing, this meant someone had to step up for Brooklyn. That man was Jalen Wilson, who scored 21 points and grabbed ten rebounds off the bench. It was a breakout performance for the rookie on a two-way contract as he proved he deserves more minutes in coach Jacque Vaughn's rotation.
"Having a coach's trust is a really big thing to have. When you check in the game, you don't want to think about yourself. How can I make the guys around me better? How can I take the score from whatever it is or the lead from whatever it is and extend it. That's all I'm trying to do, just going out there and playing hard," Jalen said in his post-game interview.
Jalen has the intangibles to become a rotation player
Entering his inaugural NBA season, Wilson stands out as one of the more experienced rookies, having completed a three-year tenure at the University of Kansas. At 23 years old, his maturity surpasses that of fellow rookies Dariq Whitehead and Noah Clowney, both aged 19.
This means coaches like Vaughn can trust Jalen to play much better because he doesn't rely much on his raw athleticism. With his maturity, he thinks of every play he makes while also knowing what his team needs to succeed.
That mindset was on display against the Bucks as Jalen was aggressive with his drives to the hoop. He earned 11 free throws and made every shot from the charity stripe. At the same time, Wilson was also superb with his rebounding as he worked hard to crash the boards, grabbing ten by the end of the game.
The Nets have hidden gems on the bench
Most of the time, Coach Vaughn favors a nine-man or 10-man rotation during regular lineup usage, leaving minimal playing time for individuals such as Wilson or Trendon Watford, who only enter the game when required.
Recently, Jalen and Trendon showcased exceptional performances against the Bucks, prompting contemplation from the coaching staff. While both players possess the talent to secure spots in the regular rotation, they must still earn their places. Fortunately, they exhibit a "next-man-up" mentality, ready to step in whenever Coach Vaughn calls their number.
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