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After missing training camp and the first two months of the regular season, Day’Ron Sharpe isn’t just staying healthy for a depleted Nets team, he is playing some of the best basketball of his career.
Back from a hamstring injury, the Nets big man is averaging a career-high 7.8 points on 48 percent shooting along with 6.3 rebounds through 25 games.
Sharpe has been even better in January — averaging 8.9 points and 7.1 rebounds as his playing time has jumped to 19.6 minutes per game due to injuries and trades creating more opportunities.
His rebounding ability has always been a strength, but the four-year Net feels he has refined his game elsewhere.
“Pacing myself. Not just being in a hurry with everything. I feel like when I first got back, I was in a hurry,” Sharpe said following the Nets’ 110-96 loss to the Kings on Monday night at Barclays Center. “Just trying to go too fast. Not paying attention. Not really focused. I was just trying to play hard so I could play the right way. But I feel like the month of January I’ve been getting my rhythm back. So, just pacing myself and perimeter [defense]. Being able to slide, switch. I feel like I’ve been working on that a lot. I’ve got a ways to go though.”
Sharpe is shooting 53 percent from the field this month — up from 44 percent once he started playing in December.
The 23-year-old who is already in his fourth season in Brooklyn has scored in double digits in six of 14 games this month, which included three double-doubles.
Sharpe had to deal with Kings standout big man Domantas Sabonis, who leads the league in rebounding, on Monday and still earned his third double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds (seven offensive) along with one block and three steals across 23 turnover-free minutes.
He has three games with eight or more offensive rebounds off the bench this season.
No other player has more than one such game.
“That’s just what I do, grab offensive rebounds no matter who the other big is,” Sharpe said. “I’m gonna try to get every last one. [Sabonis] did play a lot of minutes too, so he boxed out all night. So, I guess it just went in my favor in the second half.”
When Noah Clowney limped off the court in the second quarter on Monday, having sprained his left ankle by awkwardly landing on Sabonis’ foot, Sharpe was tasked to take on more minutes against Kings star with Nic Claxton, who had a mere six points and seven rebounds.
Still, Sabonis outdid the Nets all across the board.
The three-time All-Star ended with a triple-double of 21 points, 22 rebounds and 10 assists across 41 minutes, for which he was a plus-29.
“No. 1 is how hard he works throughout the year and you have to be in elite shape,” coach Jordi Fernandez said of Sabonis, who he coached for two seasons in Sacramento (2022-24). “Obviously, he’s very strong but you know he’s an ultimate pro. You can see it on the stat line here. Very aggressive. That’s how he plays. He impacts the game with his passing, rebounding, and scoring. And that obviously not just him, but the whole team benefits from what he does. So, how hard he plays and you look at the minutes, 41 minutes, that’s pretty impressive.”
If an extended absence is to come for Clowney, who has been ruled out for Wednesday’s game in Charlotte, they will rely more on Sharpe’s production along with forwards Jalen Wilson and Tosan Evbuomwan, who scored a combined 30 points and 10 rebounds against the Kings.
“Being an anchor on defense. Get back and telling guys where to go, calling the switches. As a center, you see everything so just trying to be a vocal leader on defense,” Sharpe said. “That’s been the main challenge they’re trying to get me to do.”
