The new project led by Jordi Fernández kicked off with a crushing victory over the Charlotte Hornets.
And much of the credit for this went to two of its veterans, namely the recently arrived Julius Randle and his new teammate Michael Porter Jr.
Between them they combined for 29 points, 7 rebounds and five assists to prevail by a comfortable 124-90.
The presence of both players represents a tremendous boost for the Nets’ offense, one of the league’s worst last season in terms of efficiency and three-point accuracy.
Last night the Nets posted 55% from the field and an impressive 54% from beyond the arc.
“Yes, tonight we’ve had great feelings,” Jordi Fernández told the NY Post.
“The positive is that in this first preseason game we had nearly all of our players available. Everyone earned their minutes. The important thing is that we can play with intensity for the full 48 minutes,” he emphasized.
Randle totaled 13 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists, and Porter Jr. added 16 points, 5 rebounds and two assists.
The starting five was the expected one with Igor Demin, Keon Ellis, Porter Jr., the aforementioned Randle and Day’Ron Sharpe as the starting center.
“Right now they are simply getting to know each other and adjusting to one another,” he said about his new duo.
“It’s important that they understand that Michael needs to be sought on the three-point line. Julius, for his part, can score in various ways—driving or by pulling the ball out of the paint. And they were good because they found each other. So everything has gone well,” he added.
First game as teammates, first W as a duo on the @BrooklynNets!
Michael Porter Jr: 16 PTS, 6-9 FGM, 4-6 3PM
Julius Randle: 13 PTS, 4-7 FGM, 2-3 3PM https://t.co/Jz1ie9jByK— NBA (@NBA) October 7, 2026
