Despite entering this season with a depleted roster, Jordi Fernandez and the Nets have still gotten off to a decent start with impressive wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and the Memphis Grizzlies. The Denver Nuggets needed overtime to escape Barclays Center victorious on Tuesday.
Fernandez can now throw a healthy Trendon Watford into rotation. The versatile forward missed the entire preseason and the first five games of the regular season because of a left hamstring strain suffered in training camp. He has been itching to get back on the court and has been cleared to do so ahead of Friday’s matchup against the Chicago Bulls at Barclays Center.
“It’s been [a long road],” Watford told reporters ahead of his 2024-25 debut. “Getting hurt in camp at an unfortunate time, but fortunate that it happened before the season started. It’s just been a lot of rehab work and a lot of just trying to get back to where I was feeling and feeling even better.
“I’ve been able to sit out and watch what the team’s been doing and how we’ve gotten better over the past five games, and even in preseason… I think everybody’s adapting well. And we saw it in camp, but you know, once you get in the game, you feel it out. And it took us a few games, but I think everybody’s getting it and I’m just glad to join that and join the wave.”
Watford, who turns 24 next month, signed a one-year deal to remain with the Nets in July. He averaged 6.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 63 appearances last season while shooting 52.7% from the field and 39.7% from 3-point range. And while he played inconsistent minutes throughout the first half of last season, he broke out down the stretch, averaging 12.9 points, 5.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists per game over his final 11 appearances.
“It’s good having another big guard out there, a big wing,” Nic Claxton said. “It’s always good having size. And you know, he can affect the game in a lot of different ways, handling the ball, defending. So definitely good having our soldier back.”
With Watford back in the fold, Day’Ron Sharpe (hamstring) and Bojan Bogdanovic (foot) are the only Nets who have not debuted this season. Bogdanovic’s status remains a mystery, but Watford hinted that Sharpe could be back on the court soon.
“He’s on the road to getting back,” Watford said of Sharpe. “Day by day, man. So, I know how tough that is just coming from that injury, too, and I think this is his second time doing it. He’s feeling good, though. Probably not too much longer.”
