The NBA glamor was what Drew Timme dreamed of.
After a tough 12 months that noticed him go undrafted following a robust faculty profession at Gonzaga after which struggling a season-ending foot fracture within the G-League, he lastly acquired his NBA shot on a two-year, $2 million take care of the Nets.
Nonetheless, since signing the contract simply over per week in the past, that glow has blown over and the 24-year-old is beginning to really feel extra like a daily because the Nets put out gamers to assist them tank for an opportunity at a high lottery decide.
Sunday marked Timme’s first NBA begin.
He recorded 13 factors and 7 rebounds within the 120-109 loss to the Raptors.
“I imply, the primary recreation I used to be positively actually amped up,” Timme mentioned after the Nets’ second straight loss. “However now, it’s only a recreation. I imply, clearly, tonight getting my first begin, that was fairly cool. However as soon as that ball will get thrown up, you kinda neglect the place you might be. You’re simply in a rectangle, regardless of the courtroom form is, simply taking part in.”
Within the 5 video games Timme has performed in Brooklyn, he has averaged 11.6 factors on 51 % capturing throughout 25 minutes per contest.
He had a double-double (11 factors and 10 rebounds) in his debut and put up a career-high 19 factors in opposition to the Wizards in his second recreation.
Timme is the primary Web to attain 50-plus factors and seize 25-plus rebounds in his first 5 profession video games since Terrance Williams (2009).
“Yeah he’s been superb. Like once more he related together with his teammates immediately,” head coach Jordi Fernández mentioned on Sunday. “He matches in, his character and his recreation. I need him to maintain capturing the three. He ran to the nook and made a tremendous 3 in transition. Didn’t depend as he stepped out of bounds. However I need him to remain aggressive. Preserve capturing the ball. He had seven rebounds, 13 factors. So very proud of him. However not simply the manufacturing. Generally the ball’s going to go in, generally it’s not going to go in. However his intentions, how good of a teammate he’s. He is available in and works day by day. So I’m very proud of Drew.”
Nonetheless, the decreased nerves which have settled over the previous week didn’t have any impact on the rising depth of the NBA studying curve.
Timme described himself as “the annoying child in school who asks one million questions.”
“I say, ‘Look y’all I’m gonna want it another time. Dumb it down a bit of bit,’ ” he mentioned. “However, you already know, in the event you don’t ask, you then mess it up and it’s on you. So, I’m not afraid to ask the questions or ask for a repeat. Simply do no matter I can to assist the crew nonetheless I can, even when I ask one million questions.”
The Richardson, Texas native has discovered Nic Claxton to be his major man throughout the transition, coming as much as him throughout timeouts and follow to provide pointers.
The Nets have been utilizing Timme at heart, and he was the clear decide on Sunday when Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe have been on the bench.
Timme hasn’t taken the chance with no consideration because the Nets lean into their youth for the ultimate 4 video games of the common season in opposition to the Pelicans, Hawks, Timberwolves and Knicks.
It boils right down to extra minutes, reps, and expertise for the rookie.
“I believed [playing center] was a variety of enjoyable,” he mentioned. “I loved it … exhibiting that I can deal with totally different appears to be like, totally different reads and stuff is massive. I’ve simply acquired to proceed to maintain doing that so I can hold getting minutes, as a result of that’s the purpose to stay round and to play.”
