National Basketball Association

Brooklyn Nets: Anthony Bennett Gets a Fresh Start

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Anthony Bennett has been at the front of high scrutiny since being drafted in 2013. Now, with the Brooklyn Nets, he gets a fresh start and a shot at redemption.

It’s not news that Anthony Bennett is viewed as arguably the biggest bust in NBA history. As the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NBA Draft, Bennett never lived up to expectations. Since then, his journey has taken him through three NBA teams (the Brooklyn Nets are his fourth), and even the Canadian national team.

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In an interview with Basketball Insiders, Bennett discussed his offseason, potential, and criticism he has faced.

During the offseason, it became apparent that Bennett has slimmed down. Business Insider previously reported that he lost 15 to 20 pounds before Summer League.

Bennett touched on this topic, as he mentioned getting healthy and working on different aspects of his game.

“I’ve been focused mostly on finding the balance between keeping my power coupled with my quickness and agility. I haven’t changed anything from my past, the only difference now is I’ve been healthy for long enough to really put in work the way I want to. This offseason, I’ve worked on footwork, different ways to attack the rim from the left and right, and how to get open for shots efficiently from all spots on the floor.”

In terms of criticism (let’s face it, Bennett has dealt with A LOT), he isn’t focused on it. This is good news for the Nets, who are no stranger to skepticism heading into the 2016-17 season.

“To be honest, I don’t pay attention to what critics say. I focus on my family and those close to me. My motivation is not to silence anybody; my motivation lies within and making my family proud.”

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At only 23 years old, Bennett still has room to grow. He still has a long career ahead of him, and will be looking to prove his worth in the NBA this year. The Nets took a chance on him this summer when signing him two-year, $2 million deal. He’ll want to show that he’s worth every penny and perhaps even more.

In just two preseason games, Bennett has already shown a glimpse of what he brings to the team. He was particularly impressive in the Nets’ most recent preseason game against the New York Knicks. Despite the Nets’ loss, Bennett led the team in scoring with 15 points off the bench.

There are still four preseason contests to go, and Bennett will see plenty of action before games actually start to count. If Bennett shows enough promise in these games, he just might land a spot as a solid role player on the team.

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