After being drafted 40th overall, Rodions Kurucs was supposed to spend most of his rookie season in the G League. Instead, the Latvian forced his way into the Brooklyn Nets’ rotation, landing a starting spot and playing a key role in the team’s midseason run that eventually led to the playoffs.
This year, even though the Nets have added more two-way wings to potentially take his minutes, Kurucs is ready to build off a strong rookie campaign, where he averaged 8.5 points and 3.9 boards while slashing .450/.315/.783, and cemented his spot in the Brooklyn rotation.