Keon Ellis said his decision to join the Brooklyn Nets came down to one thing: Jordi Fernandez. The Nets free-agent signing spent his first two NBA seasons alongside Fernandez in Sacramento. His success during those years led him to reunite with the former Kings assistant in Brooklyn during his first free agency.
“In this game, and it's a business, having someone like Jordi as the head coach, someone you’re familiar with, [is important],” Ellis said. “You know all the schemes, you know what he’s about, you know what they want to run. It’s a little bit of a safe space right there. He’s familiar with my game, and I’m familiar with how he rocks. That was the No. 1 thing.”
Ellis looked like a promising three-and-D player early in his Kings tenure. He emerged as an effective point-of-attack defender while shooting 42.9 percent on 8.2 three-point attempts per 100 possessions across his first three seasons.
However, his minutes dipped during the first half of last season. The Kings traded Ellis to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the deadline, where he failed to carve out a consistent role during a playoff run.
After signing a two-year, $18 million contract with the Nets, Ellis hopes to regain the early consistency that helped him thrive.
“Early on [in my career], everything was just so consistent. On the court, off the court, just everything all around, you knew what you were gonna do at practice and during game time. So I think that allowed for everyone's play to be better,” he said. “I think that coming here, it will be a lot more consistent as well… Roles, playing time, things like that. In recent history, I didn't know what was going to happen from game to game, night to night, which is fine. It's the business, it happens, and you do have to stay ready, but it is a little tough at the same time. When it's consistent, it doesn't get better than that… I think that's probably the biggest thing [that will help me here].”
Ellis should fill a critical role for a Nets team that has lacked high-level point-of-attack defenders in recent seasons.
Why Keon Ellis could fill critical role for rebuilding Nets in 2026-27
With a center rotation that lacks rim protection, solid perimeter defense will be a non-negotiable for Brooklyn. Fernandez is convinced Ellis can help lead the charge there.
Article Continues Below“I think Keon’s got the best hands in the NBA, and that’s hard to teach,” the coach said. “At the same time, you want to be disciplined and follow the schemes, whatever the game plan is. I trust him. I know he’s very diligent with his work, and I know he can perform at a high level. He’s going to help us a lot on the defensive end.”
Offensively, the Nets have ranked towards the top of the NBA in three-point volume under Fernandez. However, they ranked dead last in efficiency last season. Fernandez pointed to Ellis' three-point shooting, secondary ball-handling and quick decision-making when outlining his offensive expectations.
“Keon has been good as a second-side ball-handler. Sometimes he has helped bring the ball up the floor because he can handle it. But he's shot the ball well [throughout his career],” he said. “I think he's always been a guy who keeps it simple and clean and has been efficient. That's why, analytically, he always ranks high, because he's pretty efficient with everything he does.”
Michael Porter Jr. pointed to Ellis as one of the early standouts of Nets training camp.
“Keon has been hooping these first two days,” Porter said. “He plays the right way. He plays defense. He can really shoot the ball, and he’s been just overall very solid.”
While the Nets hope to take a step forward this season, they're still early in their rebuild. Brooklyn's roster features eight players selected in the last two drafts. General Manager Sean Marks has spoken about the importance of surrounding those young prospects with the right veterans.
The GM and Fernandez expect Ellis to be a positive influence on the court and in the locker room.
“I think it was an easy decision [to sign Keon], because the front office was very high on him and so was I, because I have a personal relationship with him,” Fernandez said. “You have a guy with many intangibles. He's a super pro, he's got probably the best hands in the NBA, he can shoot the ball, he can handle, is a great human. He’s coming here and is about business. It was a no-brainer.”