Nets' Dariq Whitehead speaks on earning Jordi Fernandez's trust
NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets guard Dariq Whitehead has not played that much at the NBA level this season as the Nets have been navigating this rebuild with plenty of depth on the roster. However, with just a few games left in Brooklyn's 2024-25 season, Whitehead has been seeing more playing time and he's trying to make the most of the opportunity.
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"Just do the right things. I'm sure me, as well as the coaching staff, know by now how talented I am," Whitehead said following Thursday's 105-90 loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Whitehead played 26 minutes off the bench in the contest and had a solid outing with 17 points and three rebounds and made five of his nine attempts from behind the three-point line.
"Offensively, I'm gonna make shots," Whitehead continued. "For me, it's just doing the right thing. Earning coach's trust, being in the right spots on defense, doing the right things, and from there, I know that everything else gonna take care of itself."
Whitehead, the 22nd overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft out of Duke, has played in just 15 games this season, averaging 5.2 points and 1.2 rebounds per game while shooting 40.0% from the field and 44.2% from three-point land. With the amount of depth that Brooklyn has had on the wings with players like Cam Johnson, Ziaire Williams, and Keon Johnson, it has been hard for head coach Jordi Fernandez to find playing time for the second-year player hailing from Newark, New Jersey.
Whitehead did not play much during his rookie year as he had to go through plenty of reps in Long Island, Brooklyn's G League affiliate, while also working his way through injuries. This season, Whitehead has spent most of his time in the G League, but he is looking to change that by earning the trust of Fernandez and the coaching staff over the final games of the campaign.
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"I've been out (of college) for two years. At this point, it's a reality check with myself," Whitehead explained. "I know I'm not gonna come back (in) four or five months and just gain coach's trust. I gotta continue to show that I'm working on my body, taking care of my body, doing the right things outside of basketball. So that he's comfortable with putting me in there and knowing that I'm not having any setbacks or anything."
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Dariq Whitehead speaks on earning Jordi Fernandez's trust
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