The Nets knew Jared Dudley would come from Phoenix as a salary dump. They thought he could arrive as a mentor, and maybe a floor spacer.
Few could’ve imagined that he’d end up a starter.
But that’s exactly what Dudley has been, thrust into the lineup for every single game by injuries and holding the power-forward spot down coming into Friday’s game versus the Rockets.
“Jared Dudley, he’s like the player-coach. He’s there, like two steps ahead of everybody. He’s always telling us little advantages that he can do against all these type of big guys,” said Jarrett Allen. “He’s like the brains. He’s always helping me with things I don’t know.”
That’s not shocking.
Dudley got votes for which active player will make the best head coach someday in this year’s NBA GM survey. And Nets coach Kenny Atkinson has repeatedly gushed over the veteran’s ball movement, defense and, most of all, floor spacing. That’s why he’s started the first eight games; well, that and injuries.
DeMarre Carroll, who started last season at small forward, is out indefinitely after ankle surgery. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who started at power forward, is coming off the bench after being set back by an Aug. 4 adductor injury that shelved him for two months.
Forwards Rodions Kurucs (ankle, upgraded to probable) and Treveon Graham (hamstring) have also been out, leaving the Nets in a precarious frontcourt position. But Dudley, 33, has supplanted Carroll as the oldest Net, and stood in for him as the grownup in the room. And he’s offered subtle contributions that go largely unnoticed.
Dudley’s base numbers (6.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists) are modest, but he’s doubled last year’s production, is shooting 37.2 percent from deep and has spaced the floor. And a deeper dive shows him leading all Nets regulars in a litany of advanced statistics, including assist-to-turnover ratio, effective field-goal percentage and even Player Impact Estimate and plus-minus.
Simply put, they’ve been better when he plays.
“Younger teams — especially teams that haven’t been successful winning teams — [have volatile morale],” said Dudley. “When I got to Milwaukee [2014-15] they were the worst team in the NBA [the previous season]. I didn’t think we were going to make the playoffs. And then one win, two wins, you win seven of eight before the All-Star break and all of a sudden you start believing.
“The swagger you walk with, rolls are happening, people start buying into their roles because you’re winning. When you don’t win it’s hard, like maybe I should play more or maybe I should shoot the ball more.”
The Nets largely got Dudley as a salary dump, sending Darrell Arthur and his $7.4 million deal to the Suns for Dudley and his expiring $9.5 million pact. General manager Sean Marks essentially got a 2021 second-round pick for a bargain $2.1 million. But the lessons Dudley is giving youngsters like Allen, Caris LeVert and Spencer Dinwiddie has made him a long-term benefit, even if his stay is short.
“Spencer asked me one time why I didn’t shoot the first (3) in the corner. I said right now I’m struggling. It’s about you and Caris getting downhill. The next one, if I get a little bit more space and more confident I’ll shoot it,” said Dudley. “Just because you might be open, it might not be the best shot for the team at the time. We’re trying to teach these guys … it’s about getting a great shot, not a good shot.
“When you play and do things the right way and follow the game plan, you’re going to be more successful than not.”
Even after Dudley is finished contributing to the Nets’ short-term play, he may have a hand in any long-term success.