With a 0-7 start to the 2025-26 season, the Nets looked destined to be one of the worst teams in the NBA. However, the team hasn’t given up. As of late, Brooklyn is playing its best basketball.
In December 2025, the Nets have played 11 games and have gone 7-4. During that span, they have been the highest-rated defense in the NBA. Ahead of their game on Monday evening vs. the Warriors, Nets’ head coach Jordi Fernandez explained how Brooklyn has revamped its defense. Fernandez said the addition of Noah Clowney to the starting lineup has allowed the Nets to have positional versatility.
The Brooklyn Nets have the top defensive rating in December 2025
Jordi Fernandez on the key to the Nets’ defensive turnaround:
“I think positional size matters. Making the change to bring Noah [into the starting lineup] and slide Mike to the three, it really changed everything.” pic.twitter.com/ftv0OpK9n2
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) December 29, 2025
Cam Thomas started the first eight games of the 2025-26 season for the Nets. However, he suffered a hamstring injury and proceeded to miss 20 consecutive games. While Thomas was out, head coach Jordi Fernandez made a change to the starting lineup. Noah Clowney was inserted into the starting lineup and has given the team positional versatility.
Jordi Fernandez made Noah Clowney the starting PF and moved Michael Porter Jr. to small forward. This tweak has allowed the Nets to play with more size in the starting lineup. Michael Porter Jr. and Noah Clowney are both six-foot-ten. Nic Claxton is six-foot-eleven. With that size, the Nets are not an easy team to score on in the paint. That could not be said earlier in the 2025-26 season.
Noah Clowney is easily among the most improved players in the league
We’ve talked about his offensive leap a lot, but he has been turning it around defensively as well, too
Love to see the motor both as a weakside help defender & fighting for the boards pic.twitter.com/SEWgbKReHc
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) December 24, 2025
After a 0-7 start, Brooklyn had the NBA’s worst defensive rating at 128.5. However, the team made a complete turnaround in December 2025. Their 105.4 defensive rating is #1 in the league. Additionally, the Nets are holding teams to just .550% shooting at the rim. Jordi Fernandez explained that the buy-in from players and coaches has led to Brooklyn’s recent success.
Speaking to the media, Jordi Fernandez specifically mentioned Noah Clowney as one of the x-factors for Brooklyn’s success. His improvement since joining the starting lineup has been massive. It’s been an all-around career-best season for the 21-year-old.
Clowney’s two-way versatility has been put on full display. He can knock down shots from three with consistency and can play high-level defense. Noah Clowney’s individual success has helped spark the Nets to play their best basketball in December 2025.
