The Brooklyn Nets have been a top 10 team in salary dedicated to injured players during five of the past seven NBA seasons. In three of them, they’ve been in the top two. Last season, the Nets set a franchise record for games missed to injury/illness at 374, second only to the 76ers 397.
Sure, those stats loses some stock when you remind yourself they paid Kevin Durant $37 million during the 2019-20 campaign, fully knowing he wouldn’t suit up for a single game during it. Whatever you want to call Kyrie Irving’s imposed absence due to the New York City vaccine mandate factors in here too. Uncle Drew made $35.3 million in 2021-22, appearing in just 29 games.
But even if you’re willing to concede that, there’s still no arguing against the idea that the injury bug likes to dine in Brooklyn, and not at Peter Luger. It’s nobody’s fault, but that doesn’t make it any less unfortunate.
However, this year, the Nets have been relatively healthy. At the All-Star break, they’re second-to-last in cumulative injured salary, per Spotrac.
We always knew this season would be a turning point for the Nets. Brooklyn installed five rookies via the draft over the summer, becoming the first NBA team to ever select five players in the first round. Good or bad, their first steps are also the first tangible ones in a new era for the Nets — one no longer defined by star players of the 2010s, the crushing expectations that come with them, and the amplified misery that follows when one inevitably gets hurt.
Nolan Traoré, the 19th pick in last year’s draft, is part of that rookie crew … and part of the program to reduce time lost. He’s fully embracing both sides of the responsibility that comes with shaping a new age for the Nets, on the court and off.
As part of that, he’s big on preventive performance, so to speak, trying to limit the games he loses at this level. He’s had a balky knee in France. Both he and the Nets don’t want to see that replicated in the NBA. It’s a big if not much publicized part of his development and how the Nets have been treating their young players.
He’s not alone in his praise among the Nets young players both in Brooklyn and Long Island. Grant Nelson sat seven weeks to clear up his knee issues, which he said he’s had been an issue since he was 20.
“I think it really shows how good the performance staff is here,” Nelson told ND last month. “And what they’ve done to get me back on the court and be ready for when I get back on the court.”
Brooklyn selected Traoré with their second first rounder out of France in June, then paid his French team a six-figure buyout fee. He logged eight minutes on opening night, but spent much of the team’s first two months of the season in the G-League. Early on at the pro level, he looked uncomfortable, off-pace, and without command of the offense. He needed to develop a tad more. So, the Nets sent him to a place where he could.
Since coming over from Long Island in mid-December, it feels like Traoré’s come much farther than Nassau County, 20 miles to the east. The young ball-handler now resembles a confident, professional offensive facilitator starting to find his footing while not sacrificing that awesome speed…
He’s also shooting north of 40% from three since mid-January. The sample gets bigger and better all the time.
But as mentioned, while looking to give Nets fans something fresh to cheer for, Traoré’s also looking to reverse course when it comes to the injury department.
“Recovery isn’t just downtime for me,” he told NetsDaily. “It’s a non-negotiable part of my job…Staying ahead of the curve with recovery and constantly adapting my routines is how I plan to build a long and productive career in this league. Ultimately, success is being just as physically capable in year ten as I was in year one.”
Traoré’s focus on his body runs deep as blood. His brother, Armel Traoré, has dealt with hand, quad, ankle, and back injuries while playing professionally in France over the past four years and during a brief stint with the Los Angeles Lakers. Nolan named Armel as the biggest influence on his approach to longevity.
“Having played in the NBA and faced his own battles with injuries, he has been an invaluable source of advice on what it actually takes to stay healthy at this level,” Traoré said. “Seeing his journey firsthand made me realize early on that talent alone isn’t enough if you aren’t available to play.”
That said, Traoré’s also seen a similar level of dedication to long-term health in his new home(s). He mentioned he’s relied “heavily” on Brooklyn’s medical staff and noted that rather than applying a one-size-fits-all program, the Nets integrate their professional expertise with a player’s personal goals to develop training and recovery plans. Traoré said he appreciates that collaborative approach more than anything. He also said Brooklyn’s helped him better listen to his body, which he claims is key.
“The most important lesson I’ve gathered from both my brother and the staff is that you have to be your own biggest advocate when it comes to health,” he said. “It is about understanding my body and its limits while using every tool at my disposal to push those limits safely.”
Traoré listed pace and the sheer physicality of the NBA as the biggest training and recovery-related factors he’s had to adjust to since coming over from France.
“Even coming from France, where the game is fast, the NBA is even faster,” he said. “I’ve had to become much more proactive rather than reactive. It’s no longer just about recovering after I feel fatigued; it’s about preparing my body days in advance to absorb that nightly impact. In this league, you can’t just play through the grind; you have to stay ahead of it.”
Traoré’s typical recovery days focus on targeting stretching and soft tissue work. He also mentioned he prioritizes mental clarity with consistent, quality sleep, as well as disciplined nutrition and hydration.
Then on the court, Traoré also noted he wears a custom brace that gives him a unique blend of support and flexibility. If you haven’t seen Traoré play, trust me, the ability to stop and go in an instant is a pretty important part of his game.
“Because my game relies on being shifty and change-of-direction, I can’t afford to feel restricted,” he said. “It’s the only brace I’ve found that feels completely natural and fluid while I’m moving, but activates instantly to protect my ankle the moment there’s a risk of injury. It gives me the confidence to play my style without compromise.”
It’s all part of something more crucial to Traoré than any dime he’ll drop, triple he’ll splash, or painted area he’ll touch — to be ready not just for Brooklyn’s next game, but its next one hundred, and so on.
“Injury prevention is essential to having a long, successful career, and as an athlete, this is my ultimate goal,” Traoré reiterated. “Talent isn’t everything; the small, disciplined choices you make every day to take care of your body now at a young age are what determine your ceiling. I see this as being proactive and thinking years ahead rather than waiting for a problem to occur before addressing it.”
Traoré is starting to reap the benefits of his labor as well. Since returning from Long Island, he’s appeared in 27 games for the Nets, only missing two due to an illness, not an illness. He’s logged over 30 minutes in six of his last nine contests. In his most recent one, he became the first Nets rookie with at least 20 points and eight assists in a game since Terrence Williams did so on April 9, 2010.
“I define a successful career by longevity and consistency, specifically how long you can sustain your performance at an elite level,” Traoré went on. “To remain on the court for many years, you have to be disciplined about how you treat your body from the very start of your professional journey. It’s not just about the number of games played. It’s about the quality of those minutes and your ability to bounce back night after night.”
Dialogue today around player availability can easily spill into arguments over load management and the NBA’s recently imposed 65-game threshold for award eligibility. It’s a tiresome, static conversation that continues to flood First Take airwaves and serve as the backbone for the “this league is soft” narrative.
However, Traoré simply remains concentrated on being there for this teammates, and, of course, the fans.
“Players today have a greater responsibility than ever to use the advanced tools and medical resources available,” he said. “Meeting league benchmarks like the 65-game threshold isn’t just about award eligibility; it’s about being reliable for your teammates and the fans.”
Even, and maybe especially, when you’re 19.