Ben Saraf impresses Nets with maturity, poise as 19-year-old rookie

Brooklyn’s 19-year-old rookie Ben Saraf is drawing attention this summer as he navigates training camp and the NBA’s youngest rosters. The Nets are fielding one of the league’s most inexperienced ensembles, and Saraf has stood out for a maturity and poise well beyond his years. Teammates and coaches repeatedly point to his professional demeanor during summer workouts. Michael Porter Jr. offered a candid read on why Saraf looks so advanced for his age: "When you first get to the NBA, it takes a minute to not look at these superstars as you did when you were growing up watching them. [But] overseas players it’s a little different, because they’ve been playing pro so long. I noticed it in Ben, talking to coaches about Ben, just how he is in open gym, just how impressive he’s been to me. He’s 19, and just his level of professionalism, just walking around is well beyond his years."

Saraf turned pro at 16 and has already logged three professional seasons, first with Elitzur Netanya, then Elitzur Kiryat Ata and last season with Germany’s Ratiopharm Ulm. In that period he played over 60 games, reaching the Bundesliga final and participating in FIBA competition, experiences Nets officials say have prepared him to handle the NBA’s pace. He described his early summer as a player who already feels like he belongs on a high level: "I feel like, yeah, playing like it’s going to be my fourth year playing professional, so I’ve got some experience. With playoff games I played with full arenas, so I think it’s helped me. And my last teammates, my last vets … I’m trying to learn from each one of them. I don’t feel like a rookie here. I am a rookie, I’ll do all my duties, but it’s basketball, so I’m just going out there and playing."

In Brooklyn, Saraf has drawn praise from those who see his game up close. Nic Claxton, the Nets’ frontcourt anchor, has lauded Saraf’s feel for the game and his willingness to bring veteran physicality to his approach, even as the guard faces adjustments that come with the jump to the NBA. Saraf says the biggest changes lie in the speed of the game and the decision-making around shot selection. He has already embraced a faster, more permissive offensive style in which the best players and coaches emphasize quick decisions and immediate looks. "The pace of the game, the shot selection are different. Here it’s way faster in the NBA. In Europe it’s going to be more moving the ball, cuts. And here it’s a lot of one-on-one, which I like. So I like it here; but it was pretty different. I feel like here we just need to let the ball fly. If we have a wide-open shot, we shoot it right away. Maybe [in Ulm] we want to be, like, more doing tactics, and attack this defender, that defender. But I feel like if we’ve got a good shot, let it fly; and this is exactly what we’re doing here, and that’s exactly what the best players in the NBA, the best coaches. So, I really love this game style."

Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernández, who was hired to guide the Nets’ young core, said he wasn’t surprised by Saraf’s early impact. "For me, no, because I’ve watched Ben play so many games. He’s played at a professional level in games that matter," Fernández said. "I was more familiar. Our players, since he didn’t play in college, so they’re less familiar, and maybe that’s why they’re a little surprised. Ben’s a great player."

As the summer unfolds, Saraf’s teammates are quick to point out how his strength translates to the court. Day’Ron Sharpe, who returned from the offseason leaner, offered a blunt, practical assessment: even if Saraf’s frame is still developing, his footwork and feel for the glass—along with a willingness to be a connector on offense—should help the Nets as they pursue a competitive season. Sharpe’s own improvement has been visible to observers, and his presence as a physical rebounder could be a critical piece alongside Saraf’s development.

The Nets’ approach this summer blends development with competition, and Saraf’s presence is central to that plan. Brooklyn has prioritized giving its young players meaningful exposure in summer league and training camp, a path that could position Saraf as a rotation option as the season nears. His experiences in Europe and in high-stakes playoff settings appear to have accelerated a maturity timeline that typically takes several years to develop. Nets officials emphasize that while his status is that of a rookie, his professional background makes him less of an adjustment case and more of a risk-ready contributor.

The picture Nets fans are watching is one of a deliberate, patient ascent. Saraf is still learning the NBA’s subtleties—how defenses pressure pick-and-rolls, how to choose angles against switching schemes, and how to pace a game in one of the league’s most demanding environments. But the early impressions from both sides of the court suggest that his blend of professional seasoning and natural feel for the game could translate into a meaningful role sooner than typical for a player his age. If he maintains the poise he’s shown in summer workouts and continues to grow physically and in his decision-making, Saraf could become a notable piece in Brooklyn’s evolving, youth-infused roster.