The irony wasn’t lost on Jalen Wilson.
The Nets wing is only a 12 months into his NBA profession, but already found himself at a Brooklyn camp talking to local schoolkids.
It gave the look of yesterday that Wilson was coming to camps like this himself.
But now the 23-year-old is a component of a youth movement for the rebuilding Nets.
Overnight — or, ever for the reason that Mikal Bridges trade kickstarted their rebuild — Wilson finds himself with at least seven teammates actually younger than him.
He let loose amusing when that was identified to him.
There’s responsibility now. But furthermore, there may be opportunity.
“In fact,” Wilson told The Post. “I believe all of us knew that going into Summer League, the chance that we had so far as all of the young guys having the possibility to actually play this 12 months. So I just take each day and each single opportunity I’m handed as a blessing, and I would like to attack the whole lot.
“I began off with Summer League and now the summer and going to training camp and things like that. So it’s making the most of opportunity. You already know, that’s all you ask for as a young guy within the NBA is the chance to play and get to showcase what you may do.”
Given the possibility to shine in Las Vegas last month, Wilson was named the Summer League MVP after averaging 21.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in five games.
Wilson, a second-round pick from Kansas last 12 months, has never lacked self-belief.
But his performance in Las Vegas has only buoyed his confidence as he looks to earn a spot within the Nets rotation.
“I believe the whole lot in life, accomplishments are at all times good to go for,” Wilson said. “And when you get them, you simply should set recent ones.
“You possibly can never get complacent with where things are. And that’s where I’m at. I’m just shooting for more goals, shooting for more achievements. Now that I’m here back on the town, you will have the chance to get within the gym each day and get well. So , when the time comes, that you just’re prepared.”
Shooting is the operative word.
Despite being the Big 12 Player of the 12 months, Wilson fell to the Nets at 51st overall within the 2023 draft largely over doubts about his lack of 3-point shooting.
Wilson shot just 31.6 percent on 3-pointers in college, just 27.5 percent as a rookie for Long Island within the G League and 32.4 percent within the NBA.
But he drilled a stellar 55.0 percent from beyond the arc through five games in Las Vegas.
“I might say the fundamental thing is first just getting the reps in. In case you don’t get the gym , it’s not going to occur,” Wilson said. “Numerous the times, you should have good misses in the event you’re gonna miss. So shooting the whole lot long, right? I believe nothing short. But like I said, it’s having the arrogance in your shot, I feel like that’s the fundamental thing. In case you’re coming off a screen otherwise you’re getting a pass, and in your mind it’s entering into already, that’s the fundamental part.”
“And that confidence comes with the reps, it comes with the repetition, and seeing it go in in the sport. Each time you make a 3 in the sport, I feel like every player gets that boost. That’s what you should feel. So that you’ve got to place within the work to do it. And I might say reps is crucial thing, consistently regardless of in case your shot’s feeling good at practice or not, you’ve got to simply keep working, keep getting the reps in.”
The Nets preseason schedule has been announced.
After starting training camp in Brooklyn, they’ll finish it in Southern California and play the Clippers on Oct. 8 in San Diego. They’ll return home to host the Wizards on Oct. 14, play at Philadelphia two days later and wrap up the preseason at home against the Raptors on Oct. 18.
The irony wasn’t lost on Jalen Wilson.
The Nets wing is only a 12 months into his NBA profession, but already found himself at a Brooklyn camp talking to local schoolkids.
It gave the look of yesterday that Wilson was coming to camps like this himself.
But now the 23-year-old is a component of a youth movement for the rebuilding Nets.
Overnight — or, ever for the reason that Mikal Bridges trade kickstarted their rebuild — Wilson finds himself with at least seven teammates actually younger than him.
He let loose amusing when that was identified to him.
There’s responsibility now. But furthermore, there may be opportunity.
“In fact,” Wilson told The Post. “I believe all of us knew that going into Summer League, the chance that we had so far as all of the young guys having the possibility to actually play this 12 months. So I just take each day and each single opportunity I’m handed as a blessing, and I would like to attack the whole lot.
“I began off with Summer League and now the summer and going to training camp and things like that. So it’s making the most of opportunity. You already know, that’s all you ask for as a young guy within the NBA is the chance to play and get to showcase what you may do.”
Given the possibility to shine in Las Vegas last month, Wilson was named the Summer League MVP after averaging 21.8 points and 4.6 rebounds in five games.
Wilson, a second-round pick from Kansas last 12 months, has never lacked self-belief.
But his performance in Las Vegas has only buoyed his confidence as he looks to earn a spot within the Nets rotation.
“I believe the whole lot in life, accomplishments are at all times good to go for,” Wilson said. “And when you get them, you simply should set recent ones.
“You possibly can never get complacent with where things are. And that’s where I’m at. I’m just shooting for more goals, shooting for more achievements. Now that I’m here back on the town, you will have the chance to get within the gym each day and get well. So , when the time comes, that you just’re prepared.”
Shooting is the operative word.
Despite being the Big 12 Player of the 12 months, Wilson fell to the Nets at 51st overall within the 2023 draft largely over doubts about his lack of 3-point shooting.
Wilson shot just 31.6 percent on 3-pointers in college, just 27.5 percent as a rookie for Long Island within the G League and 32.4 percent within the NBA.
But he drilled a stellar 55.0 percent from beyond the arc through five games in Las Vegas.
“I might say the fundamental thing is first just getting the reps in. In case you don’t get the gym , it’s not going to occur,” Wilson said. “Numerous the times, you should have good misses in the event you’re gonna miss. So shooting the whole lot long, right? I believe nothing short. But like I said, it’s having the arrogance in your shot, I feel like that’s the fundamental thing. In case you’re coming off a screen otherwise you’re getting a pass, and in your mind it’s entering into already, that’s the fundamental part.”
“And that confidence comes with the reps, it comes with the repetition, and seeing it go in in the sport. Each time you make a 3 in the sport, I feel like every player gets that boost. That’s what you should feel. So that you’ve got to place within the work to do it. And I might say reps is crucial thing, consistently regardless of in case your shot’s feeling good at practice or not, you’ve got to simply keep working, keep getting the reps in.”
The Nets preseason schedule has been announced.
After starting training camp in Brooklyn, they’ll finish it in Southern California and play the Clippers on Oct. 8 in San Diego. They’ll return home to host the Wizards on Oct. 14, play at Philadelphia two days later and wrap up the preseason at home against the Raptors on Oct. 18.
