Keon Ellis appears poised for a significant role with the Nets this season after an encouraging preseason showing.
The 26-year-old started all four of Brooklyn’s exhibition games, knocking down six 3-pointers despite playing no more than 24 minutes in any contest.
Ellis struggled in the preseason finale, but even that performance offered a positive sign.
Despite his shooting woes, he still attempted four shots from beyond the arc, suggesting he’ll have plenty of opportunities to let it fly this season.
And he’s certainly capable of taking advantage.
Ellis, who is better known for his defense on the wing, has been a reliable perimeter shooter throughout his career, connecting on more than 40 percent of his attempts from deep.
Last season, he averaged 1.3 long-range attempts per game, although that was only in 20.5 minutes per game while largely coming off the bench for the Kings and Cavaliers.
With his playing time potentially climbing closer to 30 minutes in Wednesday’s season opener against the Hornets at Barclays Center, Ellis should have more than enough opportunities to knock down at least two 3-pointers.
A year ago, the Nets were the worst shooting team in the NBA from beyond the arc, shooting a league-low 34 percent despite putting up 38.1 attempts per game.
Betting on the NBA?
Considering his track record and apparent role in Brooklyn’s offense, the over on his 1.5 made 3-pointers looks like a strong play to kick off the 2026-27 NBA season.
The play: Keon Ellis to make two or more 3-pointers (+105, FanDuel Sportsbook)
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Dylan Svoboda is a versatile writer and analyst across many sports. He’s particularly knowledgeable about the big three — MLB, the NFL and the NBA.
