Nets' playmaking rookie showcases flashes of Spurs' HOFer

The Nets knocked off the Suns in the second game of the China Games in Macao, 111-109.

Cam Thomas led all scorers with 16 points in 26 minutes, but that was hardly the story of the contest. 

Brooklyn may have selected five rookies in the first round of the 2025 NBA draft, but an unlikely candidate has emerged as potentially the most impactful of them all. 

This 19-year-old has a wealth of experience playing professionally in the Israeli league. He also dons Luka Doncic's No. 77 as he aims to emulate the Slovenian-born great. 

Ben Saraf, who was a polarizing pick among the Nets fan base, is showing major signs of emulating another European-born great, Manu Ginobili. 

The left-handed combo guard plays with great pace, and court vision. His 11 assists led all players on Sunday.  

At 6-foot-6, his length is a major advantage in the paint against smaller guards. While Saraf finished with just four points on 2-of-5 shooting, his selfishness in finding the open man is eye-opening. 

It might be premature to compare this teenager to a Hall of Fame. Argentinian-born great, but he certainly impressed in his young Nets career.