Jordi Fernandez promises Ben Saraf will be ‘great NBA player’

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez has been a vocal supporter of rookie guard Ben Saraf since before the 2024 NBA Draft, advocating for his selection. The Nets drafted Saraf with the 26th overall pick. After an initial stint as a starter in October that had mixed results, Fernandez's faith in the 19-year-old was reaffirmed by Saraf's recent 40-point performance in the G League Showcase.

Following the Nets' win over Philadelphia, Fernandez praised Saraf's composure and NBA-ready play during his G League explosion, noting his shooting, finishing, and confidence. He stated Saraf could have scored 50 points and emphasized that Saraf's self-critical nature and team-first mentality are why he believes the guard will become a great NBA player. In that game, Saraf set career-highs with 14-of-26 shooting, including 6-of-10 from three-point range, adding six rebounds and four assists.

Saraf's scoring prowess is not new, as he previously averaged 28.1 points to win MVP at the FIBA U19 European Championship in 2023 and 24.3 points at the U16 level in 2021. However, his early NBA season was inconsistent, averaging 5.8 points on 36.2% shooting over 10 appearances with significant playing time, struggling particularly as an outside shooter and finisher.

Saraf attributed his improved performance to finding a rhythm and working on his shot mechanics with Nets shooting consultant Dave Love. The work is showing results, as his three-point percentage has jumped to 44.4% in the G League after shooting below 28% earlier in the season with Brooklyn and in Europe. After his showcase performance, Saraf was recalled by the Nets but did not play against the 76ers. The organization, with Fernandez noting his history of rewarding player development like Nolan Traore's, is expected to find opportunities for Saraf, who remains one of the youngest players in the NBA.