Danny Wolf’s NBA debut with the Brooklyn Nets will have to wait a little longer. The Nets have ruled out the No. 27 pick for Sunday’s matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers due to a left ankle sprain.
Wolf injured his ankle during Brooklyn’s shootaround before the team’s October 22 regular-season opener. Since then, the 6-foot-11 big man has missed the Nets’ first three games while recovering from the sprain. Although he did not have an official injury designation for Monday’s game against the Houston Rockets, he missed that matchup because of a G League assignment.
In a positive sign, Wolf was removed from Brooklyn’s injury report and was available for Wednesday’s loss to the Atlanta Hawks, but he did not see any game action. Unfortunately, his return to the injury report for the 76ers game suggests a setback in his recovery.
### Danny Wolf Yet to Make Nets Debut While Managing Lingering Ankle Injury
Wolf remains the only one among the Nets’ NBA-record five rookie first-round picks yet to make his NBA debut. The talented big man had an impressive college career at Michigan, where he played extended stretches as a point guard. Last season, he averaged 17.3 points, 12.8 rebounds, and 4.7 assists on 49.7 percent shooting from the field and 33.6 percent from three-point range.
During the preseason, Wolf appeared to be the Nets’ most NBA-ready rookie. In two matchups against the Phoenix Suns, he showcased his versatile offensive skill set, averaging 10.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 6-of-9 from the field and a perfect 3-of-3 from beyond the arc in just 13 minutes per game.
### Competition for Playing Time and Role on the Team
Wolf is unlikely to have a guaranteed rotation spot early this season. Throughout training camp, he split time between power forward and center positions. However, Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe currently occupy the team’s center roles. At power forward, Michael Porter Jr. and Noah Clowney have opened the year as the starter and backup, respectively.
As a result, Wolf is expected to spend time in the G League early in the season to continue his development. That said, Clowney has had a disappointing start, averaging just 5.2 points on 7-of-28 (25 percent) shooting from the field and 4-of-20 (20 percent) from three across his first five games.
If Clowney’s struggles persist, Wolf’s opportunity to earn NBA minutes could come sooner rather than later. For now, the focus remains on getting Wolf fully healthy and ready to contribute to the Nets’ rotation.
https://clutchpoints.com/nba/brooklyn-nets/nets-news-danny-wolf-ruled-out-for-76ers-matchup