Undersized Kurucs needed up front
Rodions Kurucs said at last year’s All-Star weekend, when he participated in the Rising Stars Challenge, he has a better 3-point shot than Latvian countryman Kristaps Porzingis.
Kurucs will get to prove it as he’s ready to assume the starting power-forward slot, with multiple Nets injured or opting out of the NBA restart in Orlando.
The only threat to the 22-year-old’s job is newly signed Michael Beasley, whom, interestingly, has caught Kurucs’ eye previously. Kurucs watched a lot of Knicks contests because of Porzingis.
“He’s a great player,’’ Kurucs said Saturday of Beasley, following the Nets’ third practice. “I was watching him when he played in New York. When he was doing really great, I was watching him. He was one of my favorite players when he played with the Knicks back then.”
Beasley will miss the first five games to serve out his drug suspension, so Kurucs will be the starter by default. Kevin Durant decided not to play in the restart, Taurean Prince tested positive for COVID-19, Wilson Chandler backed out because of fear of infection and Nic Claxton just had shoulder surgery.
So here comes Kurucs, who gives the Nets another outside-shooting dimension. He’s been spotted also at center, giving them a chance to spread the court fully.
“I think we can do five-out with Rodie,’’ point guard Chris Chiozza said. “With him at the 5, it gives us the threat of him being able to shoot.’’
It’s been a rough season for Kurucs, a 2018 secondround pick who appeared in just 39 games. He dealt with allegations of domestic assault in September and inconsistent play that had the 6-foot-9, 228-pound big man demoted to the Long Island Nets. This came after starting 46 games last season on a playoff squad.
Kurucs said he has been told he will have to play some center.
“This opportunity’s great for me, but we still have new guys coming over,’’ Kurucs said.
➤ Because of the limited gym space in the Disney bubble, some of the 22 teams are forced into practicing on makeshift courts set up in convention center ballrooms.
“I believe [this is] our third ballroom,’’ interim coach Jacque Vaughn after the team’s third practice. “We’ve rotated. I think overall they’re changing up the location to give a fair playing field for everyone. One of our assistant coaches, Bret Brielmaier, he’s keeping notes of the surroundings and which one he likes best. We’re enjoying it. It’s good to hear the ball bouncing again.’’