DALLAS — It may have taken Danny Wolf a month or so to get into the Nets’ rotation, but it didn’t take him long to look like a rotation player.
The first-round pick from Michigan has stepped right in and performed, impressing both teammates and coaches with not only his comfort on the ball but his confidence.
Entering Friday’s 119-111 loss to the Mavericks, Wolf has exceeded all expectations in terms of his supposedly middling jumper, his 44.4 percent shooting from 3-point range second best among all rookies. He added 17 points, seven rebounds and an assist in the loss.
And since getting recalled from the G-League, his size has given Brooklyn a solid frontcourt rotation.
“Danny always plays like he belongs,” coach Jordi Fernández said before. “When he’s had the opportunity, he’s taken advantage of the opportunity. Going back to Macao, he had some guys in front of him. And that was communicated, like to the rest of the guys. It’s my job. Was I right or wrong? I don’t know. But when he had the chance to play, took advantage of his minutes.
“When he had the opportunity to play with Long Island, he took advantage of his minutes. And now that he’s in the rotation, he’s taking advantage of his minutes. So I’m very happy with him. He’s a special player because at his size he can do so many different things. And still trying to figure it out because he’s showing me what he’s capable of doing. He’s capable of doing a lot of things — good things.”
Those things revolve around playmaking skills that belie his 6-foot-11 frame.
Wolf began Friday averaging 12.8 points and 5.6 rebounds in the Nets’ past five games.
Both the Nets and Mavericks came into Friday on five days’ rest. Last Saturday, the Nets beat the Pelicans 119-101 while Dallas beat the Rockets.
“Obviously, take care of your body is extremely important at this point,” Fernández said. “We played three in four [days] before Thanksgiving and then a five in seven. You can imagine how hard that is for your body, so recovery is important. And then get better. We had three really good practices. And that’s what it’s all about. Get 1 percent better.”
Brooklyn called up guard Nolan Traore before Friday’s game. The teen point guard averaged 18.8 points and 6.4 assists for Long Island, one of three players in the G-League averaging at least six dimes on 40 percent from deep.
Over his past five G-League tilts from Dec. 1 on, he’d averaged 22.2 points and 7.6 assists on 58.3 percent shooting, including 60 percent from deep.
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