Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez expressed his frustration with rookie Nolan Traore after Thursday’s game against the Houston Rockets, specifically pointing to Traore’s approach on offense.
The young guard struggled to find rhythm, missing seven of his eight shots overall and converting just one of his five attempts from beyond the arc.
Fernandez made it clear that he wants Traore to focus on the parts of his game that put pressure on the defense, rather than settling for perimeter looks that play into the opponent’s plans.
“I want him to use his superpowers and touch the paint. And it felt like he got caught shooting the underside. And a lot of times that didn’t work… because that’s what they want you to do,” Fernandez said.
He further emphasized the importance of adapting when shots aren’t falling, adding that making the same choices repeatedly without results is counterproductive, especially given the high confidence he has in Traore’s abilities.
The message seemed to land quickly. In Friday’s game, Traore avoided the three-point line altogether and instead focused on attacking and scoring 12 points in 26 minutes, a shift that better suited what his coach had urged him to do.
Nets Notes: Thomas, Porter Jr., Claxton, Sharpe, Traore https://t.co/OBf7dIPPGu pic.twitter.com/Yt7LLHXMB5
â Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) January 3, 2026
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