Keon Ellis is already looking like Jordi Fernández’s kind of player
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Keon Ellis is already looking like Jordi Fernández’s kind of player
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 28: Keon Ellis #1 of the Brooklyn Nets speaks during a press conference at Brooklyn Nets Media Day at Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center on September 28, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Keon Ellis is one week into his first Nets training camp, and Jordi Fernández is already seeing what he expected.
“He’s got the best hands in the NBA, and that’s hard to teach,” Jordi Fernández said at Friday’s practice. “At the same time, you want to be disciplined and follow the schemes, whatever the game plan is. I trust him. I know he’s very diligent with his work and everything, and I know he can perform at a high level. He’s going to help us a lot at the defensive end.”
The connection between Ellis and Fernández goes back to Sacramento, where the two were together from 2022-24 while Fernández worked under then-Kings head coach Mike Brown. That familiarity was part of what made Brooklyn an appealing destination for Ellis this offseason, when the Nets signed him to a two-year, $18 million contract with a full mutual option for the second season.
“You have a guy with many intangibles, is a super pro. He has probably the best hands in the NBA, can shoot the ball, can handle, is a good human,” the Nets coach said. “He’s coming here and is about business. It was a no-brainer.”
Ellis knows the mutual respect benefits both of them.
“In this game — and it is a business — having someone like Jordi being the head coach, someone you’re familiar with, [is big]. You know all the schemes, you know what he’s about, you know what they want to run,” Ellis said Friday after practice. “It’s a safe space right there. He’s familiar with my game, I’m familiar with how he rocks. That was the No. 1 thing.”
He added, “He [Jordi] knows how I play, and I know how he wants his team to play. I know I can have a big impact in that way.”
Ellis enters Brooklyn coming off a season in which he averaged 6.7 points while splitting time between Sacramento and Cleveland following a February trade. He also shot 36.3% from three last season after hitting on 42.9% over his first three NBA seasons.
“It’s not for me to say [how much of an impact he will make],” Fernandez said. “It’s for me to believe every time he guards he’s going to be good on that player, and every time he shoots the ball, I believe it’s going to go in.”
Michael Porter Jr. has noticed it, too.
“Strong start. Keon has been hooping these first two days. He plays the right way. He plays defense. He can really shoot the ball, and he’s been just overall very solid,” Porter said at Friday’s practice.
He’s also made an impression on Nets sophomore Drake Powell.
“Keon’s been great overall so far, not just on the court, but off the court as well,” Powell said at Media Day. “I think what I can take from him defensively is just how active he is with his hands and, you know, just being in the right spot. The ball will just naturally come to him defensively, get a steal and from there we’re just out and running.”
The Nets held their first scrimmage of training camp Friday, giving Ellis and the rest of the roster their first chance to compete in a game-like setting.
One week of training camp won’t tell us everything. For now, Ellis has already given Fernández and his teammates plenty to like.
Keon Ellis finds Nets ‘safe space’ in Jordi Fernandez reunion – Zach Braziller – New York Post
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 28: Keon Ellis #1 of the Brooklyn Nets speaks during a press conference at Brooklyn Nets Media Day at Brooklyn Nets HSS Training Center on September 28, 2026 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Keon Ellis is one week into his first Nets training camp, and Jordi Fernández is already seeing what he expected.
“He’s got the best hands in the NBA, and that’s hard to teach,” Jordi Fernández said at Friday’s practice. “At the same time, you want to be disciplined and follow the schemes, whatever the game plan is. I trust him. I know he’s very diligent with his work and everything, and I know he can perform at a high level. He’s going to help us a lot at the defensive end.”
The connection between Ellis and Fernández goes back to Sacramento, where the two were together from 2022-24 while Fernández worked under then-Kings head coach Mike Brown. That familiarity was part of what made Brooklyn an appealing destination for Ellis this offseason, when the Nets signed him to a two-year, $18 million contract with a full mutual option for the second season.
“You have a guy with many intangibles, is a super pro. He has probably the best hands in the NBA, can shoot the ball, can handle, is a good human,” the Nets coach said. “He’s coming here and is about business. It was a no-brainer.”
Ellis knows the mutual respect benefits both of them.
“In this game — and it is a business — having someone like Jordi being the head coach, someone you’re familiar with, [is big]. You know all the schemes, you know what he’s about, you know what they want to run,” Ellis said Friday after practice. “It’s a safe space right there. He’s familiar with my game, I’m familiar with how he rocks. That was the No. 1 thing.”
He added, “He [Jordi] knows how I play, and I know how he wants his team to play. I know I can have a big impact in that way.”
Ellis enters Brooklyn coming off a season in which he averaged 6.7 points while splitting time between Sacramento and Cleveland following a February trade. He also shot 36.3% from three last season after hitting on 42.9% over his first three NBA seasons.
“It’s not for me to say [how much of an impact he will make],” Fernandez said. “It’s for me to believe every time he guards he’s going to be good on that player, and every time he shoots the ball, I believe it’s going to go in.”
Michael Porter Jr. has noticed it, too.
“Strong start. Keon has been hooping these first two days. He plays the right way. He plays defense. He can really shoot the ball, and he’s been just overall very solid,” Porter said at Friday’s practice.
He’s also made an impression on Nets sophomore Drake Powell.
“Keon’s been great overall so far, not just on the court, but off the court as well,” Powell said at Media Day. “I think what I can take from him defensively is just how active he is with his hands and, you know, just being in the right spot. The ball will just naturally come to him defensively, get a steal and from there we’re just out and running.”
The Nets held their first scrimmage of training camp Friday, giving Ellis and the rest of the roster their first chance to compete in a game-like setting.
One week of training camp won’t tell us everything. For now, Ellis has already given Fernández and his teammates plenty to like.
