Brooklyn Nets Bench Outperforming Starters, Becoming Key Factor in Competitive Games

11 October 2026

Despite finishing the 2025-26 NBA regular season with a 37-43 record and placing 9th in the East, analytics show that the Brooklyn Nets' bench has become the team's most reliable source of production and energy in tight games. Even as the team's overall bench net rating was the worst in the NBA at -15.2, Brooklyn's reserves have repeatedly outperformed the starters in crucial moments, scoring 2,884 points off the bench over 82 games.

In late March, the bench's impact was on full display in two heated matchups. Against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 14, Brooklyn's backups rallied from a 28-point deficit, completing a game-high 31-9 run in the fourth quarter and cutting the Sixers' lead from 21 to a brief lead. The bench lineup included two-way players and a newly signed 10-day contract signee, but it was Danny Wolf's 15-point, 10-rebound double-double and Josh Minott's 14 points that fueled the comeback. Brooklyn still came up short, falling 104-97, but the bench outscored the starters 57-40 and played 138 minutes, compared to just 101 for the starters.

The bench's performance against Philadelphia was preceded by a similar story against the Memphis Grizzlies on March 9, in which the reserves once again outplayed the starters. This time Brooklyn narrowly trailed 111-104, even as the bench produced 49 points and held their own against the starters' 49. Though the bench played 72 minutes compared to the starters' 125, they excelled with a 14-3 assist-to-turnover ratio, beating out the starters' 11-7.

Rising stars on the bench's core have included E.J. Liddell, Chaney Johnson, and Tyson Etienne, with Josh Minott, Ben Saraf, and Malachi Smith also identified as key players by NetsDaily. In the March 14 Philadelphia game alone, Liddell and Saraf each contributed 10 and 12 points respectively. On March 9, Tyrese Martin and Jalen Wilson combined for 28 points on 10-for-14 shooting, while Day'Ron Sharpe tallied 8 points and 13 rebounds off the bench.

The bench's success may be linked to the Nets' development pipeline. NetsDaily noted that many of the bench players, including Liddell, Johnson, and Etienne, spent time with the Long Island Nets affiliate this season. Coached by Ime Udoka, the Long Island Nets were established as a developmental team in 2016.

Though the Nets posted a poor -15.2 season-long bench net rating and finished 37-43 last year, the bench's production in late-season close games bodes well for their impact in 2026-27. In the preseason win over Charlotte, reserve Egor Dëmin signaled that the Nets' rebuild is on track as key bench contributor Tyrese Martin averages 9.2 points and 2.6 assists, while Sharpe has strung together multiple double-digit scoring performances. With much of the core returning, expectations are high for the Nets' bench, and the payoff could start on October 21 when Brooklyn opens the season against the Hornets.