Ben Saraf already impressing Nets with game, professionalism

Ben Saraf is the second-youngest player on one of the youngest rosters in NBA history. But the Israeli point guard doesn’t seem like a rookie, much less a teenager.

Talk to various Nets, and Saraf’s name keeps coming up as having surprised them in summer workouts with his maturity and seasoned game.

“When you first get to the NBA, it takes a minute to not look at these superstars as you did when you were growing up watching them,” Michael Porter Jr. said. “[But] overseas players it’s a little different, because they’ve been playing pro so long. I noticed it in Ben, talking to coaches about Ben, just how he is in open gym, just how impressive he’s been to me. He’s 19, and just his level of professionalism, just walking around is well beyond his years.”

Saraf turned pro at 16 and has already played three seasons, at Elitzur Netanya, then Elitzur Kiryat Ata and finally last season at Germany’s Ratiopharm Ulm.

Between reaching the Bundesliga final and FIBA, he played over 60 games last year, which has led to Saraf being seasoned.

“I feel like, yeah, playing like it’s going to be my fourth year playing professional, so I’ve got some experience. With playoff games I played with full arenas, so I think it’s helped me,” Saraf said. “And my last teammates, my last vets … I’m trying to learn from each one of them. I don’t feel like a rookie here. I am a rookie, I’ll do all my duties, but it’s basketball, so I’m just going out there and playing.”

Nic Claxton praised Saraf’s feel for the game, while the Israeli point guard has displayed a veteran physicality.

Saraf’s biggest adjustments in the NBA will be the greater athleticism and different shot selection; that is, more one-on-one play.

“The pace of the game,” Saraf said. “The shot selection are different. Here it’s way faster in the NBA. In Europe it’s going to be more moving the ball, cuts. And here it’s a lot of one-on-one, which I like. So I like it here; but it was pretty different.

“I feel like here we just need to let the ball fly. If we have a wide-open shot, we shoot it right away. Maybe [in Ulm] we want to be, like, more doing tactics, and attack this defender, that defender. But I feel like if we’ve got a good shot, let it fly; and this is exactly what we’re doing here, and that’s exactly what the best players in the NBA, the best coaches. So, I really love this game style.”

For his part, coach Jordi Fernández — a Spaniard — hasn’t been surprised by Saraf.

“For me, no, because I’ve watched Ben play so many games. He’s played at a professional level in games that matter,” Fernández said. “I was more familiar. Our players, since he didn’t play in college, so they’re less familiar, and maybe that’s why they’re a little surprised. Ben’s a great player.”

Day’Ron Sharpe came back from the offseason noticeably leaner, but predicted he’ll still dominate the offensive glass.