Shot-Blocking Big Man Norvel Pelle Anxious to help the nets on defense

Norvel Pelle was training in Ohio and on his way to the NBA G League bubble in Orlando when his reps revealed interest in the Brooklyn Nets.

Suddenly, his plans changed.

“My representative called and said it was time for you to go to New York, and I was excited. [when] I found out it was the Nets, ”the 6-foot-10 center said Thursday on a Zoom call.

Pelle officially signed with the Nets on Jan. 28 but has yet to play in a game. Head coach Steve Nash – who has a team against the powers of the Toronto and Philadelphia Eastern Conference on Friday and Saturday, respectively – said it is unclear when Pelle will play in a game.

“Of course, we’re trying to shape it and see what we found,” Nash said. “If we need minutes out of it, we have no problem putting it in the game but that has to be proven. ”

When playing, Pelle understands that his duty is to “just play defense, defend the fringe as much as possible and get out of there. ”

The Nets are third in the NBA in offensive effectiveness and 27th in defensive efficiency. Many NBA spectators believe that if they can improve their defense going forward, they will have a real picture of coming out of the Eastern Conference and vying for an NBA title. The Nets hope Pelle and former shield Iman Shumpert, whom Nash said is “completely available,” will improve the defense. Pelle figures to get a few minutes supporting DeAndre Jordan and possibly Jeff Green at all five.

“Yes, my career is based on defense,” Pelle said. “I’ve been a great defender all my life, so just come in and fill a position.”

Pelle, of Lebanese and Antiguan descent, averaged 2.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 1.3 blocks with the Sixers in 2019-20.

Pelle said he was “a little nervous” in his first practice Thursday and still finds the joy of playing alongside James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

“It’s hard to explain,” he said with a smile. “You have those great people who are all on one team and sometimes you get scared of what they do, and sometimes you have to realize that you are playing too, so just step by step jump and courting the boys, lifting the brain, and letting myself take on the role. ”

Pelle said he’s especially looking forward to playing in the selection and selection by Harden, who will lead the NBA in assists.

“Oh, it’s inspiring, honest, really interesting,” he said. “He’s the kind of player I play when I play pick-and-rolls and he knows how to find the bigs and reward them. As long as you do your job on the defensive end, it’s going to reward you on the offensive end. But I’m really happy to be playing with it. ”

A great athlete, but enigmatic, who played high school ball in Compton, Calif., Pelle originally promised St. John as part of his blockbuster recruitment class in 2011 under Steve Lavin. It was declared invalid in December 2011, along with JaKarr Sampson and Amir Garrett.

He made a promise to Iona in August 2012, called by some of the greatest employers in the history of the MAAC, but never made it to New Rochelle either because of standards.

Asked how Lavin ‘s St John’ s team could be if he deserved it, Pelle laughed and said, “It ‘s a pity it didn’t work out how it should work. out, but I still communicate with some of the guys. Being overseas, I ran into some of them and we had that conversation about why I didn’t come.

“But overall it would have been very interesting for me.”

SHUMPERT IS GETTING THIS WEEK

Shumpert, 30, will be available this weekend and Nets guard Joe Harris, who played with him in Cleveland and last year in Brooklyn, believes he will help defensively as well.

“He’s just one of those guys, he’s been around, he’s been a huge success,” Harris said. “It’s very reliable, you know you can put it in any situation. He’s not going to hit himself. He makes sound plays on the offensive head and then on the defensive head it can make a difference. He’s very active, he’s athletic. He’s a great edge defender with good hands and anyone like that, you can put them in any position and they’re going to give you positive things. ”

“And in the locker room, it brings a lot of energy and a good voice, which I think will help us a lot.”

CLAXTON STILL ‘A FEW WEEKS AWAY’

After the Nets moved to Reggie Perry to the G League, Nash Nic Claxton said (right knee tendinopathy) “still a few weeks away. Hopefully next week he will start working with the ‘stay ready’ group, so there is nothing to come.

“It’s not that close, but it’s getting close,” he said.