Veteran Carroll becomes leader young Nets need
In case DeMarre Carroll ever needs a reminder of the age gap between him and most of his teammates, the Nets forward only needs to stroll through the locker room.
“They listen to the young music,” Carroll said. “I feel like they’re going to Lil Uzi and Lil Yachty and the ‘Lil.’ I’m not the ‘Lil.’ I’m more of the Future, 2 Chainz, that type of thing.”
Truth be told, Carroll is only 31. But he is the Nets’ elder statesman in terms of NBA experience and almost age — Timofey Mozgov has him beat by 11 days — on a team that gets 56 percent of its minutes from players 25 or younger.
Despite their differences in musical taste, the relationship between Carroll and his new teammates has been mutually beneficial. Since coming to the Nets in an offseason trade from the Raptors (who were looking for a salary dump), Carroll has provided a source of leadership for a team that’s rife with opportunity — particularly after two of its opening night starters went down with long-term injuries. He has been in his inexperienced teammates’ shoes, whether or not they know it.
“It’s crazy because these guys are so young and when you talk to them, they just remember DeMarre from Atlanta, a 60-win team, playoff DeMarre,” said Carroll, who made his name in his fifth and sixth years in the NBA with the Hawks. “But they don’t remember the hard times. That’s something I had to let them know. I’ve been waived by Houston and Denver, went to Utah and sat behind the bench, on the edge of being out of the league.”
Carroll remembered when he got his opportunity in 2012 with the Jazz and ran with it. It came in his third year in the league, playing on his fourth team. He had played in a combined 97 career games to that point, but scored 16 points in 18 minutes off the bench in a game against the Spurs. Because of injuries, Carroll drew his second career start the next night and has not looked back.
“Actually, that’s how [Hawks head coach] Mike Budenholzer remembers me — he came back and signed me, he said, from that performance,” Carroll said Tuesday after practice before the Nets flew to Cleveland for Wednesday’s game against the Cavaliers. “I feel like this is a great opportunity for a lot of our young guys to kind of step up and let people know their name in this league.”
Nets coach Kenny Atkinson, who was Budenholzer’s assistant in Atlanta, said he knows Carroll’s voice carries more weight in the locker room because of his journey to Brooklyn.
“That’s why DeMarre’s leadership is so important, because he’s not a star or a guy that’s been a big star,” Atkinson said. “He’s been the guy not playing, he’s been in the G-League, he’s experienced that. Those guys can relate to him [and] he can relate to them. He’s kind of a rags-to-riches story. It’s great for our authentic leadership, not some guy that comes on a max contract that’s been the anointed star from the beginning.”
In return, Carroll said he’s been rejuvenated by his young teammates. He is averaging career-highs of 13.6 points and 6.9 rebounds per game as he takes on a new role in his ever-winding career path.
“It’s great just playing with these guys. They give you that spirit and that glow back about yourself,” Carroll said. “Sometimes I have to remember, like, I got [three] kids and these guys don’t even have a kid. I feel like all that kind of helps me realize I’m excited to be here. Hopefully it’s the beginning of many years in Brooklyn. I’m just going to keep pushing, keep trying to work these guys and keep trying to do my part.”
Trevor Booker did not practice and is “day-to-day” with an ankle injury, Atkinson said.