After lacking coaching camp and the primary two months of the common season, Day’Ron Sharpe isn’t simply staying wholesome for a depleted Nets crew, he’s enjoying a few of the greatest basketball of his profession.
Again from a hamstring damage, the Nets large man is averaging a career-high 7.8 factors on 48 p.c taking pictures together with 6.3 rebounds by way of 25 video games.
Sharpe has been even higher in January — averaging 8.9 factors and seven.1 rebounds as his enjoying time has jumped to 19.6 minutes per sport attributable to accidents and trades creating extra alternatives.
His rebounding potential has all the time been a energy, however the four-year Internet feels he has refined his sport elsewhere.
“Pacing myself. Not simply being in a rush with the whole lot. I really feel like after I first obtained again, I used to be in a rush,” Sharpe mentioned following the Nets’ 110-96 loss to the Kings on Monday evening at Barclays Middle. “Simply attempting to go too quick. Not paying consideration. Probably not centered. I used to be simply attempting to play exhausting so I may play the correct means. However I really feel just like the month of January I’ve been getting my rhythm again. So, simply pacing myself and perimeter [defense]. With the ability to slide, change. I really feel like I’ve been engaged on that so much. I’ve obtained a methods to go although.”
Sharpe is taking pictures 53 p.c from the sphere this month — up from 44 p.c as soon as he began enjoying in December.
The 23-year-old who’s already in his fourth season in Brooklyn has scored in double digits in six of 14 video games this month, which included three double-doubles.
Sharpe needed to take care of Kings standout large man Domantas Sabonis, who leads the league in rebounding, on Monday and nonetheless earned his third double-double of the season with 12 factors and 10 rebounds (seven offensive) together with one block and three steals throughout 23 turnover-free minutes.
He has three video games with eight or extra offensive rebounds off the bench this season.
No different participant has multiple such sport.
“That’s simply what I do, seize offensive rebounds irrespective of who the opposite large is,” Sharpe mentioned. “I’m gonna attempt to get each final one. [Sabonis] did play quite a lot of minutes too, so he boxed out all evening. So, I assume it simply went in my favor within the second half.”
When Noah Clowney limped off the courtroom within the second quarter on Monday, having sprained his left ankle by awkwardly touchdown on Sabonis’ foot, Sharpe was tasked to tackle extra minutes in opposition to Kings star with Nic Claxton, who had a mere six factors and 7 rebounds.
Nonetheless, Sabonis outdid the Nets all throughout the board.
The three-time All-Star ended with a triple-double of 21 factors, 22 rebounds and 10 assists throughout 41 minutes, for which he was a plus-29.
“No. 1 is how exhausting he works all year long and it’s a must to be in elite form,” coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned of Sabonis, who he coached for 2 seasons in Sacramento (2022-24). “Clearly, he’s very sturdy however you understand he’s an final professional. You’ll be able to see it on the stat line right here. Very aggressive. That’s how he performs. He impacts the sport along with his passing, rebounding, and scoring. And that clearly not simply him, however the entire crew advantages from what he does. So, how exhausting he performs and also you take a look at the minutes, 41 minutes, that’s fairly spectacular.”
If an prolonged absence is to return for Clowney, who has been dominated out for Wednesday’s sport in Charlotte, they are going to rely extra on Sharpe’s manufacturing together with forwards Jalen Wilson and Tosan Evbuomwan, who scored a mixed 30 factors and 10 rebounds in opposition to the Kings.
“Being an anchor on protection. Get again and telling guys the place to go, calling the switches. As a middle, you see the whole lot so simply attempting to be a vocal chief on protection,” Sharpe mentioned. “That’s been the principle problem they’re attempting to get me to do.”