The Brooklyn Nets Established a Legitimate Defensive Identity

With this change, the frontcourt for Brooklyn consists of 6-foot-10 Porter Jr. at the three, Noah Clowney, who is also 6-foot-10 at the four, and 6-foot-11 Nicolas Claxton at the five, a change giving Brooklyn one of the biggest starting lineups in the league.

In a league that is constantly growing, Brooklyn took advantage, using their size to their advantage.

Rotational Impact on Defense

While the size of the Nets’ roster played a part in the defensive success, their identity came from more than just being big. 

Brooklyn has many key defenders in their rotation who all have an impact on their success. The anchor of the defense is Claxton. He has been one of the better interior defenders in the league, but has also shown versatility, being able to switch out to the perimeter and use his size to stay with guards. 

Along with Claxton, players like Clowney, Day’Ron Sharpe, and, in flashes, Danny Wolf have all shown the ability to be a force in the interior while holding their own on the perimeter. Having switchability and size on the court allows them to handle pick-and-roll actions better, while also shrinking the court and forcing deflections.

Buying Into the Defensive Identity

With Brooklyn being at the bottom of the league in offensive statistics this season, Jordi Fernandez made clear the importance of defense on the roster. Fernandez emphasizes the importance of playing hard on defense to maintain a spot in the rotation.

With how Fernandez preaches defensive effort, players are buying in and taking pride in their defense. Whether it is communicating and switching off screens, staying in front of defenders, or drawing charges, from top to bottom, Brooklyn has shown improved effort on that side of the ball

To go with the rim protection and size, guards like Terance Mann, Egor Demin, Drake Powell, and Nolan Traore, since being called up from the G-League, have all been able to provide sturdy defense on the perimeter while also doing the little things that add up to winning basketball.

To start 2026, Brooklyn lost their first two games in blowout fashion. In these two games, Brooklyn was without Michael Porter Jr. due to illness, along with Egor Demin, Terance Mann, and Cam Thomas for injury management.

Following those two games, all four players returned to action against the Denver Nuggets, a game which Brooklyn cruised to a 127-115 win, showing again the team Nets fans saw in December.

Brooklyn will look to carry the momentum from that game and continue to show its top-of-the-league defense throughout 2026.