The Brooklyn Nets will be without their 2025 first overall pick, Danny Wolf, for their season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday, October 24, 2025. The 27th overall rookie in this past year’s draft sprained his left ankle during shootaround before the Nets’ season debut against the Charlotte Hornets on the road. The Nets went on to lose that game 117–136, as nine of ten Hornets players recorded double-digit scoring.
Wolf has quickly emerged as one of Brooklyn’s most intriguing rookies — one of five first-round selections made by the franchise this past draft. The 6’11” forward, boasting a 7’2” wingspan, is still looking to showcase the skill set that made him a standout at Yale and during the 2025 NBA Summer League. In Las Vegas, Wolf averaged 10.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 blocks, and 1.0 steal across three games for the Nets. His best outing came in the finale, when he posted 18 points, six rebounds, four assists, and one block in a win over the Orlando Magic.
Although fans are eager to see Wolf in action, he’s expected to come off the bench alongside fellow rookies Egor Demin and Ben Saraf once healthy. Brooklyn’s young core made its debut against Charlotte, with Demin scoring 14 points and Saraf contributing eight points, seven rebounds, and four assists.
Brooklyn’s expectations for the 2025–2026 season are far from championship contention, as the organization plans to spend the year developing its young talent while relying on the scoring output of Michael Porter Jr. and Cam Thomas. The two combined to shoot just 7-for-24 from the field in the opener, with most of Thomas’ production coming at the free-throw line.
Friday night’s matchup against Cleveland won’t come any easier. The Cavaliers enter shorthanded, seeking to bounce back after a 111–119 loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday. Already without De’Andre Hunter, Max Strus, and Darius Garland due to injuries, Cleveland has leaned heavily on Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley to carry the offensive load.
If Wolf is able to return soon, his first chance to take the floor could come against Victor Wembanyama and the San Antonio Spurs — a challenging debut by any standard.
