Jordi Fernández has consistently preached that he desires his Nets to play arduous and disrupt defensively. It’s only preseason, but so far he has gotten just that.
And there was no clearer instance than one image value a thousand phrases in Thursday evening’s 114-108 win over Philadelphia, with Julius Randle hustling and urgent and diving on the flooring for a unfastened ball.
That’s a soon-to-be 32-year-old veteran whose perspective was questioned in Minnesota.
One wage dumped by a contending Timberwolves squad to the rebuilding Nets. That Randle, the only All-Star on the roster diving for unfastened balls and selecting up full courtroom.
“I mean, you said it, three-time All-Star, has been in the playoffs multiple times, and he’s coming here and the first one to dive on the floor and to pick up full court,” Fernández said. “I couldn’t ask for a higher chief and a higher vet proper there, or a grown-up — because clearly he’s not outdated. He’s a very younger player.
“Very happy because we need that and that’s contagious. Those to me [are] what we call winning plays, right? You dive for a ball, you get it, and then we score. So that picks up the momentum and the energy in the building. So very, very happy with that play And there [were] other plays where we tried to do the same thing.”
Randle completed with a team-high 14 factors and a team-high-tying six rebounds, alongside with two steals and two assists in 21:37.
Julius Randle shoots a jumper over Joel Embiid during the Nets’ 114-108 preseason win over the 76ers on Oct. 8, 2026 in Philadelphia. Heather Khalifa for New York Post
The energy ahead said that he and Fernández have mentioned his taking part in some small-ball middle in five-out schemes.
Michael Porter Jr. (left wrist soreness), Day’Ron Sharpe (left shoulder soreness), Mikel Brown Jr. (ankle restoration) and Joshua Jefferson (decrease back) were all out.
It’s unclear if any will play Monday in Washington.
“I don’t know,” Fernández said. “We’ll see how they feel. Mike was just sore. Mikel is doing a great job, getting close to get back. So we’ll assess them. … We have a day off [Friday], see how they feel coming back and making those decisions. But we’re happy with where everybody is right now health-wise.”
The Nets have signed guard Dion Brown.
Mo Wagner began in place of Sharpe.
He said he’s still getting used to Brookyn’s protection, but he notched a game-high 4 steals.
Chaney Johnson added two more steals, alongside with a couple of blocks.
“I take a lot of pride in my defense. That’s my calling card,” Johnson instructed The Post.
Johnson, on a two-way contract, performed a lot of middle Thursday at just 6-foot-8.
“Yeah, his versatility, multi-positional, really strong, can guard multiple positions,” Fernández said. “He can play on both sides of the floor [and] played multiple positions.”
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