Nets backup Jalen Wilson stepped up with Cam Thomas sidelined

In a best-case scenario, it’d be just a one-game need for the Nets.

They’d get Cam Thomas — who missed Tuesday’s win with lower back tightness that head coach Jordi Fernandez called “nothing major” — back in their lineup Friday and wouldn’t start Jalen Wilson.

But in the context of Wilson’s trajectory, as a former second-round pick in his second NBA season, his production against the Hornets provided a positive step in his development.

Second-year Nets player Jalen Wilson gestures after knocking down a 3-pointer against the Hornets on Tuesday night at Barclays Center. Robert Sabo

He scored a season-high 17 points while connecting on a career-best five 3-pointers, as his work in that area — which started when Brooklyn added him in last year’s draft — finally paid off.

And as a young forward on a rebuilding team with a club option for next season, his role could only continue to grow when starters carrying more value potentially are dealt before February’s trade deadline.

“Staying in the gym, no matter how high or low a day is, you got to continue to work, continue to put the shots up,” Wilson said postgame. “Like I said, just … knowing the shots are gonna go in, and being ready for the shot. We have so many great playmakers on our team, so just being ready to shoot at all times has been helping me.”

During his rookie season, Wilson averaged just 1.7 3-point attempts per game, but that number has ballooned to 3.7 one month into the 2024-25 campaign.

With Cam Thomas out with lower back tightness, Jalen Wilson — defending Tre Mann — made his fourth career start on Tuesday against the Hornets and scored a season-high 17 points. AP

While he’s worked on his 3-point shot, he has focused in games on trying to drive and force defenses to collapse — freeing up space for other shooters.

But against Charlotte, the Nets needed Wilson to make those shots.

He didn’t realize he had set a new career high during the game. It wasn’t until afterward — and “it was cool to do,” Wilson said.

He, along with the rest of the Nets, struggled early and fell into a 17-point hole, but after being held without a shot in the opening frame, Wilson attempted eight in the second quarter and sank three of them, including a pair of 3s.

Early in the second half, Wilson hit a shot from beyond the arc to give the Nets their first lead.

He buried another one later in the frame, too, and added a pair of 3s early in the fourth to keep them within striking distance.

Because Thomas didn’t appear on the original injury report before gradually getting downgraded throughout the day, Wilson didn’t know about the start until right before tip-off.

Sure, he’d played 30 minutes in a game before this season. Sure, he’d already hit 16 points, too — but both of those occurred in the opener.

This time, and for just the fourth time in his career, Wilson earned a start.

And if the Nets ever need him there again, maybe on Friday depending on Thomas’ outlook, his performance reflected an ability to handle the increased role.

“After that rocky start,” Fernandez said, “he was really, really good.”