Brooklyn rookie in line for first extended NBA audition since G League breakout

Nolan Traore is forgotten Brooklyn Nets rookie at the start of this season. While Egor Demin, Drake Powell, Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf played extended NBA minutes, Traore has spent his time in the G League with the Long Island Nets.

However, Brooklyn recalled Traore ahead of Friday’s road game with the Dallas Mavericks. After the cut with Long Island, the 19th pick could be in line for his first extended NBA audition.

Considering that Yegor Demin was out of action during the preseason, Traore struggled against Saraf in Brooklyn rush hour minutes. After a slow start in the G League, the French floor general — considered by many to be a top-10 prospect this time last year — has turned a corner over the past month.

The Nets recall Nolan Traore from the G League after a dominant stretch

In the last nine games, Traore is averaging 20.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.9 turnovers on 53/53/79 shooting. He used his blazing quickness to consistently touch the paint and create opportunities for himself and others.

After struggling to take care of the ball early on, his 2.42 assist-to-turnover ratio over his last nine games has been encouraging. Traore’s three-point shot — concerns about his play entering the draft — also must have caught the eye of Brooklyn’s coaching staff.

The 19-year-old shot 18.2 percent (4-of-22) from three on 2.2 attempts in 36 minutes in four preseason appearances and the first four G League games. However, he shot 53.2 percent (25-of-47) on 5.6 attempts in 36 minutes over his last nine appearances with Long Island. Traore is one of three G League players averaging at least 6.0 assists per game while shooting 40 percent from three, along with Windy City’s Mack McClung and Noblesville’s Steven Ashworth.

In addition to the three-point shot, Traore was effective as a driver, making 52.6 percent of his two-point attempts in the G League.

Big time stats from 2025 NBA first round pick Nolan Traore! The 19-year-old fell to 28-5-9 as @longislandnets cruised past Roy. 🇫🇷 pic.twitter.com/OkpgBI6pBv

— NBA G League (@nbagleague) November 23, 2025

Friday’s game could mark Traore’s first extended NBA minutes in more than six weeks. He played 21 minutes in a loss to the Houston Rockets on Oct. 27, recording four points, one rebound, three assists and two turnovers on 1-of-5 shooting.

With a five-day layoff this week for the NBA Cup, The Nets assigned Powell and Saraf to the G League. Both rookies played in Long Island’s games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Powell was recalled by Brooklyn on Thursday along with Traore, while Saraf remained on Long Island.

Saraf started the Nets’ first five games of the season before the team sent him down to the G League. He recently returned to Brooklyn’s rotation, averaging 8.4 points, 1.2 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.8 turnovers on 43/30/86 shooting over the team’s last five games.

Traore’s call continues the Nets rookie carousel.