Nolan Traore moves into the Nets' starting group
Nolan Traore has 63% more of the Brooklyn Nets' playing time over his last 3 games, and his production says the minutes are earned.
Nolan Traore is a guard, 20 years old, wearing jersey 10 for the Brooklyn Nets. He was born in 2006 in France and reached Brooklyn through the draft, round 1, pick 19 in 2025. He stands 191 centimeters and weighs 84 kilograms. This is his first season in the league, and the Nets have spent the opening games finding out what they have. The answer so far is a young guard who has pushed his way into the rotation and then into the first five.
The Nets have given Traore more of the floor, and the change is sharp. Over his last 3 games he has held 10.1% of the team's playing time, up from 6.2% over the 6 games before. That is a rise of 63%. His minutes tell the same story: 25 a game over the last 3, against 14.8 a game before. That is a rise of 69%. Across all 9 games his season average is 18.2 minutes and a usage share of 7.5%, which ranks 9th of 18 on the team.
The minutes look earned. Traore produces 29.2 points, rebounds and assists per 36 minutes this season. The median among the 121 guards in the comparison is 26.5. That puts him in the 63rd percentile at his position. Over his last 5 games the figure is 24.75, a step down from the season mark and a little under the peer median, so the newer minutes have not come with a spike. His usage sits in the 32nd percentile, which means he is producing without dominating the ball. Efficient and quiet is a fine way to hold a starting job.
The role is the real story. Traore started 2 of his last 3 games after starting 0 of the 6 before. He has started 2 games on the season, and both came in this stretch. His recent lines back it up: 17 points in 25 minutes on October 25, 15 points in 24 minutes on October 27, and 9 points in 26 minutes on October 30. He grabbed 2 rebounds in two of those games and 1 in the other. The scoring dipped in the latest game while the minutes held, which is what a settled role looks like.
The Nets visit the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, November 1, at 5:00 PM EST at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. The Pacers are 2-3 and have 0 days of rest. The number to watch is on their defensive end. Indiana has allowed 119.8 points a game over its last 5, against a league average of 114.5. That is a soft landing for a guard who scores in bursts. The matchup page has the rest. If the Nets keep Traore on the floor for a long night, this is the kind of opponent that tests whether the minutes keep turning into points.
Here is the expectation for Sunday. Traore plays at least 23 minutes against the Pacers. He has logged 25, 24 and 26 minutes in his last 3 outings, and his season average of 18.2 is dragged down by a 5-minute night on October 24 and a 16-minute night on October 21. The recent run is the better guide to his role. The mark of 23 leaves room for a slightly shorter night and still marks him as a regular in the rotation.
How it went
Traore played 30 minutes and finished with 16 points, 6 assists and 2 rebounds. The expectation was at least 23 minutes, and he cleared it comfortably, so the call held. The Nets beat the Pacers 98-90 on the road.
Written from the numbers listed below. Reviewed by Paul Koziol, editor. Corrections are shown on the piece. Editorial policy.