Brooklyn’s trade acquisition turns in a season-best performance during the team’s second game

Ochai Agbaji embraces a new beginning with Brooklyn Nets. The Toronto Raptors shed salary until the deadline, the former lottery pick has a chance to regain form in Brooklyn during the second half of the season.

Agbaji took a step in the right direction during his first extended action as a Net. The 25-year-old was among Brooklyn’s lone bright spots during Thursday’s 112-84 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers. He had 13 points, three rebounds, three assists and a block while shooting 5-of-8 from the field and 3-of-6 from three.

Agbaji finished with a team-best minus-four in 28 minutes.

“(Ochai) did a great job,” Jordi Fernandez said after the game. “He was ready to shoot. He still has to get used to the spacing, the rules, some plays and defensive concepts. But I think he was great. He was ready; he fought. Physically and mentally, he was ready to go. It was good to see.”

Agbaji had a career-best season in 2024/25, averaging 10.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 1.5 assists on 50/40/71 shooting in 64 appearances. However, he fell out of the Raptors’ rotation due to a career-worst shooting slump (12-of-65 from three in 42 appearances with Toronto) this year.

Ochai Agbaji is struggling to secure a long-term role after being traded to the Nets

While it is The Nets received a second-round pick in exchange for taking on Agbadji’s contractFernandez praised the guard’s skill upon his arrival. At 6-foot-5 with a 6-foot-10 wingspan and above-average athleticism, the former Kansas star has the tools to be a defensive player.

That athleticism was exposed on Thursday.

Agbaji rose up because of this rejection 🚫

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— IES Network (@IESNetwork) February 20, 2026

His ability to build on a positive night of shooting will go a long way toward securing an extended role.

“It was good. It’s nice to see the ball get into a rhythm with my teammates and I kind of just run,” Agbaji said after the game. “Obviously, I had that one game before the All-Star break, but (there were) short minutes here and there. This is the first time I’ve seen (extended) minutes to really get in shape and go with them, and I’m excited. I’m excited about what we can do. The style that we play is very unselfish, and that’s the type of player that I fit in well.”

Agbaji will be a free agent when his rookie contract expires this summer. He is one of several players — including Zaire Williams, Jaylen Wilson and Josh Minott — on the back end of Brooklyn’s roster fighting to secure a new deal.