The Brooklyn Nets enter the 2026-27 season with a clear mandate: adjust to the NBA's new officiating points of emphasis while trying to improve on a difficult 20-62 record. Head coach Jordi Fernandez and his staff will be tasked with teaching players the nuances of the league's renewed focus on freedom of movement for offensive players.
The league announced two specific areas officials will watch more closely. The first targets off-arm push-offs by offensive players. The NBA wants to eliminate push-offs that create illegal contact and displace a defender. Monty McCutchen, the SVP of Referee Development and Training, used video examples featuring players like Jaylen Brown and Paolo Banchero to illustrate the infraction.
The second point of emphasis involves freedom of movement on the perimeter and in the post. Officials will crack down on defenders who restrict an offensive player's ability to cut or drive. Training videos showed examples with players like Hugo Gonzalez and Daeqwon Plowden. For a Nets team that ranked last in offensive rating (108.7) and 26th in defensive rating (119.0) last season, these changes demand attention on both ends of the floor.
Brooklyn's roster construction makes this a key storyline. The addition of forward Julius Randle, known for his physical post play, means he'll need to be particularly mindful of the rules against off-arm push-offs. Similarly, a scorer like Michael Porter Jr. Operating on the perimeter must understand the new boundaries for creating space.
Coach Fernandez's system will need to evolve. Teaching young players to play effectively within these stricter guidelines is important early in the season. You can review their upcoming schedule on our schedule page.
Adjustment starts in training camp. The coaching staff will use the league's video examples to drill legal screening and cutting techniques. Veterans like Randle and Porter must lead by example, showing younger teammates how to score without relying on now-penalized tactics.
Brooklyn's offensive struggles are well-documented. Creating cleaner looks within the flow of the offense, rather than through forced isolation, becomes even more vital under the new directives.
The focus on defensive freedom of movement could also benefit the Nets if they play with more discipline. Avoiding cheap fouls while staying in front of their man will be a point of emphasis for a defense that has struggled. Integrating these lessons while building team chemistry around new pieces is the dual task facing Fernandez this season.
