Jordi Fernandez explains Nolan Traore’s limited minutes during the NBA call
Nolan Traore is the last of the Brooklyn Nets‘ five rookies have yet to undergo an extended NBA audition. After a great stretch of the G League over the past month, Traore appeared in line for the opportunity last week. However, the 19-year-old only played 18 minutes in two games during his NBA call-up.
Jordi Fernandez said Traore can still benefit from that time with Brooklyn despite the limited minutes.
“Real minutes mean a lot. So I know eight to ten minutes might not seem like much, but you can really help a team win a game in nine or ten minutes,” Fenrandez said. “Nolan deserved to play because he did so well with Long Island. He was better every game, not just the numbers, but the way he played. He played the same way we want him to play here: confident, shooting the ball, great assist-to-turnover ratio, all that ball-pressure stuff.
“He came here, he had an opportunity, he played. He competed in Dallas until the end, played here the other day. And now we know that there are a number of games where consistent minutes are the most important thing. Consistent minutes and games played. That exposure to this environment is very important … The reason for all this is to develop, to get better, to keep challenging yourself.” And I think he does.
Jordi Fernandez on Nolan Traore’s limited minutes during his NBA call-up last week:
“I know eight to ten minutes might not seem like much, but you can really help a team win a game in nine or ten minutes. Nolan deserved to play because he did so well with Long Island. He’sā¦ pic.twitter.com/I2Vtr8AVgH
ā Eric Slater (@erikslater_) December 21, 2025
After struggles during the preseason and his first game in the G League, Traore has become Long Island’s best player over the past month.
Will Nolan Traore get extended NBA minutes over the next week?
The French floor general averaged 20.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, 7.0 assists and 2.9 turnovers on 53/53/79 shooting over nine G League appearances before his final NBA call-up. Brooklyn returned him to Long Island after Sunday’s win over the Milwaukee Bucks, during which he played nine minutes in the garbage.
Traore turned into another positive performance on Saturday at the G League Expo in Orlando. He had 13 points, seven rebounds and six assists on 4-of-6 shooting in a 111-102 loss to the Mexico City Capitanes.
Injury to Nets rookie Drake Powell could bring Traore back into the mix in Brooklyn’s rotation this week. After Powell sprained his ankle during Friday’s loss to the Miami Heat, the Nets ruled him out for Sunday’s home matchup with the Toronto Raptors. Brooklyn called up Traore from the G League ahead of the Raptors.
2025-12-21 16:44:00
