Another new face stepped onto the Barclays Center court during a night that saw several changes to the Nets rotation.
Due to multiple injury blows the Nets had absorbed prior to tipoff Saturday against the 76ers, Tosan Evbuomwan made his Nets debut in the 123-94 loss.
The Newcastle, England, native has had a whirlwind start to 2025 after signing a two-way deal on Jan. 1. Three days later, the 23-year-old found himself earning NBA minutes.
Evbuomwan also is among an ever-changing group that is going through lots of trade action during a rebuilding season.
“This is what I work for, these types of opportunities,” Evbuomwan said of the situation after the loss. “Again, really blessed to be back here. So, whatever, everything that comes with it, I’m ready to take it in stride and kind of attack it. Collectively, I just got here but the team spirit is high. Like I said, it’s important to compete. It’s important to talk through things as a team and kind of just take one game at a time.”
Evbuomwan arrived in Brooklyn off of a huge 39-point night in the Long Island Nets’ win Friday.
With the NBA club a day later, he scored three points and recorded one rebound, one assist, and one block across 20 minutes.
“Really pleased to have gotten the opportunity,” Evbuomwan said. “Obviously, wanted to win the game, but we weren’t able to do so. But, blessed to be here and meet the guys for the first time.”
The 6-foot-8 small forward’s experience largely lies in the G-League.
However, he saw NBA time across 17 games last year, including eight starts, between the Pistons and the Grizzlies during a rookie campaign in which he averaged 5.9 points over 21.6 minutes.
This year, he has played 16 Tip-Off Tournament games with the G-League’s San Diego Clippers, averaging 18.4 points while shooting 51.9 percent from the field across 32.6 minutes.
During the regular season, Evbuomwan has played in three games between San Diego and Long Island, averaging 28.7 points.
“[I] had some NBA minutes last year too,” he said. “So, knowing I’ve been here before. It’s important to carry, like I said, confidence to this stage. … Obviously, it’s a bigger stage, but not much else changes. It’s still basketball.”
Evbuomwan went undrafted out of Princeton, where he was awarded the Ivy League Player of the Year as a junior and led the team to a Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Tournament during his senior year.
He describes himself as a “versatile player on both ends.” With injuries to forwards Cam Johnson (ankle) and Trendon Watford (left hamstring), Evbuomwan could continue to see time in Brooklyn.
Reece Beekman, who was brought to the Nets in the Dennis Schroder trade from the Warriors, had a solid game against the 76ers. Head coach Jordi Fernandez praised his defensive ability.
“Since his time in college [Virginia], his ability to create turnovers and deflections and pressure the ball. I really like how he keeps his chest in front of the ball and definitely a big fan of pressuring the ball. That’s how you win a lot of NBA games. … I’m happy with the way he played.”
The 23-year-old point guard scored seven points, shooting 3-for-4 from the field, and added a steal and a block.
D’Angelo Russell (right shin contusion) is questionable for Monday’s game against the Pacers.
The point guard suffered the injury during the second quarter of the Nets loss to the 76ers on Saturday night.
Ben Simmons is also listed as questionable with left calf soreness and lower back injury management. He was a late scratch on Saturday after experiencing calf discomfort during warmups.
