Nets recall former first-round pick Dariq Whitehead from G League as injuries pile up

With injuries piling up in recent days, the Nets recalled second-year guard Dariq Whitehead from his first G League assignment of the 2024-25 season ahead of Monday’s road game against the Golden State Warriors.

So far, the 20-year-old has played just under two minutes for the Nets this season appearing in just two regular-season games as a rookie. He underwent season-ending surgery last January to address a stress reaction in his left shin. Brooklyn picked up his third-year team option in October.

Whitehead has averaged 13.3 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 assists across six appearances with G League affiliate Long Island this season while shooting 34.6% from the field and 34.1% from 3-point range (7.3 attempts per game). In Long Island’s 130-115 loss to Raptors 305 on Sunday, the former first-round pick finished with 26 points and six 3-pointers in 36 minutes.

“Dariq’s attitude has always been good,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “He works hard. So, unless you’ve heard something different, I’m very happy with him. We have high expectations for him. All these young guys, once you go and go to Long Island, Long Island is our club, our team, and is the same thing. Nothing changes. The way you’re supposed to play, it’s going to be the same because we have a player development plan for you for the long run because we see you as part of our future.

“And then after that, yes, there’s things that change. You may have more minutes, you may have the opportunity to take more shots, but that doesn’t change anything within the plan we have. So, we want to see that, we want to see him grow, we want to see him be a pro. So that’s why we all keep a close eye, because again, those coaches are our coaches, and the team is the same basketball club.”

Veterans Dennis Schröder and Dorian Finney-Smith missed Sunday’s 108-103 defeat of the Sacramento Kings because of right ankle soreness and a left ankle sprain, respectively. Second-year forward Noah Clowney sprained his left ankle late in the fourth quarter after scoring 18 points and matching a career high with five 3-pointers.

Finney-Smith and Ben Simmons will not play against the Golden State Warriors on Monday. Simmons has yet to play in back-to-back sets this season. The status of Schröder and Clowney are unknown at this time.

“I don’t know yet, but it’s hurting though. So, I’ve got to see,” Schroder told reporters in Sacramento. “But I want to try it for sure. I’m going to go. I’m going to see how it is [Monday] when I shoot. And then yeah, make the decision from there.”