Michael Porter Jr. blames rookie struggles for 0-5 start

The Brooklyn Nets‘ An 0-5 start to the season is a reminder of how ugly a rebuild can be. Jordi Fernandez’s team looked uncompetitive and sometimes embarrassingly through the first five appearances.

Brooklyn’s rotation includes two rookie guards in Ben Saraf and Egor Demin. Michael Porter Jr. pointed to the duo’s struggles when he assessed the team’s unfavorable start.

“I think it starts with the point guard position. It’s really hard to win in the NBA when, you know, we have a lot of rookie point guards that are going to be great in this league for a long time, but they’re still rookies,” Porter Jr. said. “I think the point guard position is maybe the hardest position in the game, and we have a lot of young guys playing that spot. So it’s really hard to win when that point guard spot isn’t solidified. I think Ben (Saraf) is doing a great job of picking things up, and I think Egor (Demin) is, but they’re still rookies. So I think as a rookie I’m really ready to contribute. I think I’m a rookie. it’s going to be a work in progress.

“I think that’s the number one thing that as the season goes on, those guys get more experience and we’re going to get better as a team because of it. But right now, you know, we’re just working through some struggles collectively. It’s not just at the point guard position. I just think that’s kind of expected given the fact that these guys are rookies and their hardest position is on the floor.”

Michael Porter Jr. on the Nets’ 0-5 start and what could change during the season:

“I think it starts at point guard. We have a lot of rookie players who are going to be great in this league for a long time, but they’re still rookies. . . . I think the point guard . . . pic.twitter.com/tkkcP9v9UG

— Eric Slater (@erikslater_) October 30, 2025

After finishing with the NBA’s sixth-worst record last season and falling to the eighth pick in June’s draft, the Nets took steps to secure a better showing in the 2026 draft. Most notable was their decision to enter the season exclusively with rookies at the guard position.

After Dennis Schroeder’s high-level play led the team to a surprising 9-10 start last season, this year’s rookie running back experiment is producing the desired results.

Are Nets rookies to blame for 0-5 start?

Demin, Saraf and Nolan Traore struggled to make an impact during their first NBA appearances. Coach Jordy Fernandez removed his starters in favor of tight end Tyrese Martin during the fourth quarter of Wednesday’s 117-112 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.

Doc rookie development is at the top of the Nets’ prioritiesFernandez made it clear that none of the players in the draft are guaranteed playing time.

“It’s about us, and whoever helps immediately helps the team fight,” he said after placing Demin and Saraf on the bench. “Here, nobody’s given anything, so I’m just rewarding (Tyreez), who had a great summer and is playing well (now). It’s very simple.”

Jordi Fernandez on why he ejected Egor Demin and Ben Saraf in tonight’s 4th quarter.

“I thought Tirese (Martin) was great… It’s about us, and whoever helps the team fight right there. Nothing is given to anybody. I reward a player who had a great summer, and he was… pic.twitter.com/ZKkVELzhAG

— Eric Slater (@erikslater_) October 30, 2025

While Brooklyn’s point guard play was weak, it wasn’t the most significant factor in the team’s struggles. The Nets’ 114.9 offensive rating ranks 14th in the NBA, and their 54.0 field goal percentage ranks 16th. They don’t turn the ball over at an alarming rate, ranking 15th at 15.8 per game.

Brooklyn’s defense, however, hit an all-time low.

Nets allowed 522 points (130.5 per game) through their first four games, the most in franchise history. Their defensive rating of 129.1 is last in the league, nearly eight points behind the 29th ranked Toronto Raptors. Brooklyn’s best defensive performance came Wednesday, when they allowed a Trae Young-less Hawks team to score 117 points on 47.3 percent shooting from the field and 39.4 percent from three.

Fernandez broke his team’s defensive effort on Wednesday.

“A lot of these games come with all the stats. We’re not there in deflections… We haven’t taken over a single offense. We’re not there in verticality. We’re behind in all those things, and that comes with effort and activity. I know we can be better. It’s just a matter of trying to get more than two out of 16 quarters,” the coach said.

The Nets lacked the personnel and desire to implement Fernandez’s aggressive defensive scheme. Brooklyn’s starting lineup includes Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas, neither of whom are known for their defense, as well as rookie point guard Saraf. Brooklyn’s rotation of wings Terrence Mann, Tyrese Martin, Jaylen Wilson and Noah Clowney does not feature a high-level defender at the point of attack.

Conversely, the team’s offense struggled to find consistency due to a lack of ball handling and shot creation.

“We’re going to have to figure (it out). Something has to change, I think, in terms of maybe groups that are on the floor together or certain things,” Porter Jr. said. “Because we have good runs, and then we let the rope go and the teams go on runs. But our job is to show up here and work hard and go out on the floor and do our best. The rest is up to the coaches, and we trust them. I think we’re going to move on, take these five games, evaluate what we did well and what we did poorly and go from there to adjust.