The Official 2022 NetsGC Draft Primer

By Kristian Cuaresma

LAST TIME ON NETSGC…

Have you caught up on everything that happened in season four?

Then skip the recap and scroll down to the next section. However, for anyone that requires a refresher or completely missed out on what was easily the most successful campaign in franchise history – read on.

Nets Gaming Crew finished fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 16-12 regular season record. This marked the second consecutive year NetsGC finished fourth in the conference. The team has also set a new franchise record for its’ winning percentage. Brooklyn didn’t stop setting personal bests, also going on to reach its highest tournament finish ever, later winning its first playoff series, completing its first playoff series sweep, and advancing to its first Conference Finals.

While the team fell short of winning a title after dropping both games to the eventual champion Wizards District Gaming, NetsGC would earn two additional accolades when point guard Choc and center Shotz were named as Eastern Conference All-Stars.

WHO’S COMING BACK?

The bad news is NetsGC will begin season five in an unfavorable position.

The good news is that General Manager and Head Coach OG KING CURT’s starting point will consist of an NBA 2K League All-Star and one of the best shooters in the league.

Despite entering his fifth season in the NBA 2K League, Connor “Shotz” Rodrigues’ return to Brooklyn marks the first time the superstar center will play for one organization in consecutive years. With a place to finally call his home away from home, Shotz will be expected to take on an expanded leadership role. While he doesn’t have an extensive amount of experience as the clear leader of a team, the veteran is more than equipped to handle the additional responsibilities. Shotz finished season four averaging 18.3 points and 11.0 rebounds, while shooting 85.7 percent from the field.

At shooting guard, Wahid “Faiz” Faiz embarks on a sophomore season that will be littered with demanding expectations both on and off the sticks. Normally mild-mannered, the sniper was anything but that during the final month of the season. In that pivotal stretch, Faiz finished in double digit scoring in his final 11 games, while averaging 19.1 points in the postseason. Similarly to Shotz, Faiz’s seniority alone will require him to lead by default. But unlike his established superstar teammate, Faiz will be working with a cleaner slate, and what he decides to mould himself into could pave the way for the rest of his career.

PG:

SG: Faiz

Lock:

PF:

C: Shotz

NETSGC IS ON THE CLOCK – EVENTUALLY

The 2022 NBA 2K League draft will consist of 52 selections. NetsGC is tasked with filling out more than half of its roster with picks 41, 46, and 49. This unprecedented situation presents a monumental challenge for OG KING CURT and his players. The final third of previous drafts have often involved leftover locks, the final tier of power forwards, or guards who were comfortable with taking on the now defunct sixth player role. Regardless of the type of player, the final series of picks in past drafts have all come with volatile hit or miss bust potential.

This minefield is the sandbox NetsGC finds itself in as the organization searches for three players, including what is undeniably the most important position on the floor – point guard. Brooklyn’s former point guard Choc was an MVP type of talent, and the void he leaves further highlights how important this pick will be. Never before has a starting point guard been taken this deep in the draft, and while expectations would normally be reserved for a selection this late, NetsGC will ultimately lean on whomever it takes to lead the franchise back into the playoffs.

WHAT DOES HISTORY SAY?

Here is a list of players who have been previously selected at 41, 46, and 49:

Season 1 (2018)

#41: 24k Dropoff (Heat Check Gaming)

#46: ReeseDaGod23 (Wizards District Gaming)

#49: AyeTHREAT (Grizz Gaming)

 

Season 2 (2019)

#41: Rux (Mavs Gaming)

#46: Lavish (NetsGC)

#49: KingQuai614 (Raptors Uprising)

 

Season 3 (2020)

#41: Delusion_HD (Heat Check Gaming)

#46: followTHEGOD (Hawks Talon GC)

#49: Deedz (Heat Check Gaming)

 

Season 4 (2021)

#41: Mario (Cavs Legion)

#46: NateKahl (Knicks Gaming)

#49: Pexile (Pistons GT)

 

FACTORS TO CONSIDER ON DRAFT NIGHT

What kind of team does NetsGC want to be?

The 2021 iteration of NetsGC was electrifying offensively. Despite dealing with changes within the lineup, NetsGC was one of only two teams to finish in the top 3 in each of the following per game categories:

• Points
• Field goals made
• Field goals attempted
• Field goal percentage
• Three pointers made
• Three-point percentage
• Assists

What ultimately grounded the team to the .500 mark throughout season five was its leaky defense. Brooklyn relied heavily on its offensive firepower to counteract its defensive struggles, but when the team went cold, it often resulted in trouble.

With Shotz heralded by many as the best corner defender in the league and Faiz as one of the best young snipers, NetsGC has the flexibility to build in several different directions.

Which “available” players best fit next to Shotz and Faiz?

While NetsGC will have to remain patient, the draft won’t simply be a matter of waiting for the board to reveal itself. OG KING CURT and his players have certainly done their homework since they will need to sift through the players available to them at picks 41, 46, and 49. However, as late as Brooklyn’s collection of picks are, there is still a total of 155 players in the draft pool. The season won’t be entirely decided on draft night, but the room for error will be slim to none.

In addition to factoring in the best available talent, NetsGC will also prioritize which players best fit around its current core. Shotz has proven he can play with anyone, but with his expanded role as a leader both on and off the sticks, will he prefer a flamethrower type of scorer or a jack-of-all trades guard as his partner in the pick-and-roll? In order to best utilize his roaming abilities out of the corner, will Shotz want a more seasoned pair at lock and power forward? Or will he look to groom a duo from scratch?

As for Faiz, his flexibility on both ends is a much-needed asset. He has demonstrated an ability to effectively play with a high usage point guard, but can he evolve into something more dynamic if it’ll benefit his new backcourt partner?

The season five NBA 2K League draft will be held this Saturday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. EST broadcasted live on Twitch and YouTube.