Can Day'Ron Sharpe be Brooklyn Nets' Solution at Center?

The Nets have a new starting big man, and there are plenty of questions heading into next season.

Jan 30, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Day'ron Sharpe (20) posts up against Utah Jazz forward Brice Sensabaugh (28) during the first half at Delta Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The Brooklyn Nets will look a bit different next season, and their starting center spot is something to watch.

After trading away Nic Claxton in the deal that landed Julius Randle in Brooklyn, the Nets’ longtime starter inside is now in Chicago, opening that spot up for Day’Ron Sharpe. Going into his sixth NBA season, all coming with the Nets, Sharpe is set for his first year as a full-time starter.

Throughout his career, Sharpe has been a spot starter but has never held down a spot in the first five with any regularity. Over his first five seasons, Sharpe has started only 21 total games, including just seven last season.

As one of the best rebounders in the league, Sharpe has blossomed into one of the most reliable backup big men around. Despite Brooklyn’s struggles over the past few years, Sharpe has been an undeniable bright spot.

While his success as a backup has naturally made him the starting center going into next season, the Nets should be willing to reevaluate their decision throughout the year. Sharpe certainly has the talent needed to be effective on the floor, but there is more responsibility that comes with being a starter.

Most notably, Sharpe’s minute totals should sharply increase from his first few years. Last season, Claxton started 68 of his 69 appearances and averaged 27.8 minutes a night.

If Jordi Fernandez is ready to hand over that same role to Sharpe, it would be a steep increase from the career-high 18.7 minutes per game he played a season ago. Perhaps Sharpe has been preparing for a larger role and will be ready for more minutes, plus his small sample size as a starter last season is encouraging on that front.

However, the Nets should still be ready to pounce on an opportunity to add a better starting big man next season. Regardless of how Sharpe plays as a starter, he’s undeniably a high-level backup big, and that can be a real luxury for the Nets as they look to get back to winning.

Of course, if the team has solid chemistry and can prove its ability to win games consistently, there would be no reason to disrupt the rotation and move Sharpe around. Add in the natural motivation Sharpe should have to prove himself as a legitimate starting center in this league, and there’s a real chance that he could be the long-term solution inside fro Brooklyn.