When the Nets acquired Royce O’Neale from the Jazz in the offseason, it was an addition that caught fans by surprise given the drama that was flooding in Brooklyn. Now that Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, along with a healthy Ben Simmons, are Nets going forward, O’Neale will have a giant impact with the Nets on both ends of the floor.
It didn’t take long for the veteran wing to prove his worth in Brooklyn. O’Neale, who cost the Nets a first-round pick, served as Brooklyn’s sixth man in Monday’s preseason opener. The 29-year-old showed his 3-and-D skill set, recording 11 points (3-of-5 shooting from the field and 2-of-4 shooting from 3-point range) to pair with two boards in 17 minutes.