The Brooklyn Nets are gearing up for their second Memphis Grizzlies matchup of the 2024-25 season. Brooklyn is hosting Memphis following their 119-106 win on Oct. 30. The Nets will be without Ben Simmons, who is out with lower back injury management, but second-year forward Noah Clowney also landed on the injury report.
Clowney has appeared in all of Brooklyn's first seven games of the season, averaging 6.1 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 0.6 blocks in 16.1 minutes. However, he is dealing with an ailment that could limit his availability on Monday night.
Clowney is listed as "questionable" against the Grizzlies due to right hip soreness, per the NBA's official injury report. Hopefully, he can continue to keep his body healthy, given his rising role with the Nets.
Noah Clowney spent most of his time in the G League during the 2023-24 season, but he showed great promise with Brooklyn during the last quarter of the year. Clowney showed glimpses of his floor-spacing potential by shooting 36.4 percent on his three-pointers in 23 regular season appearances with the Nets. But that was not all.
During the Nets' 106-102 win over the Toronto Raptors on April 11, Clowney amassed 10 points, seven rebounds, and an incredible seven blocks. He was one block away from tying the Nets' franchise record for most blocks in a game by a rookie.
The Nets hope Clowney can continue to make a jump as one of their most reliable two-way forwards.
Clowney could have a projection as high as star Grizzlies forward
Noah Clowney possesses a strikingly similar skillset to star Grizzlies forward Jaren Jackson Jr. Jackson joined Memphis as the team's fourth-overall pick and was highly touted for his rim protection and floor spacing.
Jackson won the NBA's Defensive Player of the Year award for his efforts during the 2022-23 season. The following year, he had one of his best offensive campaigns. Jackson averaged a career-high 22.5 points and 2.3 assists in 2023-24.
Clowney is not the exact same player as Jackson, but he can shoot three-pointers and rim protect in a similar way. Could Clowney rise to the heights of Defensive Player of the Year and eventually, an All-Star like Jackson?
2024-25 will continue to be a crucial development period for the second-year forward. Playing and practicing alongside Nic Claxton should only help Clowney's defense rise to a new level, and the offensive reps he is getting will be vital as well.