Bruce Brown played a total of four minutes in the first two games of this season.
That’s not was the Nets fan base thought they’d see, not their glue guy – glued to the bench.
Brown sat patiently waiting for his turn. And likely knowing it was just a matter of time – so stay ready.
With Brooklyn’s head coach Steve Nash evaluating his roster, specifically the new faces, Brown spent the first couple of games looking on from the bench – supporting his teammates.
Four minutes on opening night in Milwaukee. A DNP-Coach’s Decision, against Philadelphia.
Last season, Brown averaged 22.3 minutes per game. He played an integral part in Brooklyn’s success and postseason.
At 6-foot-4, you’ll see Brown bringing the ball up as a guard. An excellent defender, you’ll also see him in the post as a small-ball center.
And he does it, well.
His willingness, and ability, to play multiple positions on the court made him a fan favorite at Barclays Center.
The glue guy in basketball is a player that helps bring a team together into a cohesive unit. They help make the workload easier for others with their willingness to always do the necessary.
On a team such as this, with big names like Durant and Harden, you need role players who can contribute wherever and whenever their numbers are called. You need your glue guys; the Nets have one in Brown.
And Nash knows this. He already knows what he has in Brown. Therefore, the second-year head coach decided now was an ideal time to take an extended look at his roster.
But on Sunday, Nash called Brown’s number. In the loss to Charlotte, he saw his first significant minutes of the season (27 minutes, 8 points). And then Monday night, Nash called Brown’s number again – this time as a starter.
Brown scored 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting in Brooklyn’s win over the Washington Wizards. His defense helped set the tone for the rest of the team.
Stay ready, so that you don’t have to get ready. But no one needs to tell this to Bruce Brown. He brings it on both ends of the court as Brooklyn’s “energizer bunny”
As the Nets continue to define roles on their roster, Brown’s role as the team’s glue guy is as clear as it gets.
Image: Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images
