For years, Drew Timme became a household name synonymous with March.
The Gonzaga product dominated in March Madness, giving opponents nightmares with excellent footwork and post moves en route to becoming Gonzaga’s all-time leading-scorer in the NCAA Tournament.
With his signature mustache and celebration, Timme finished his collegiate career as a three-time All-American and averaged 17.2 points per game.
After going undrafted in the 2023 NBA Draft, Timme dominated the G-League, averaging nearly 24 points per game for the Long Island Nets. Most recently, the Gonzaga product posted a 50-point masterclass against the Motor City Cruise on March 22 on a ridiculously efficient 21-26 shooting night. Timme even showed off his range, draining three of his five attempts from beyond the arc.
For scouts and the Brooklyn Nets, Timme’s dominance was not unnoticed. Facing injuries, the Nets signed the forward to a multi-year contract on March 28.
He picked up right where he left off.
In his NBA debut, Timme posted a double-double, finishing with 11 points and 10 boards in Brooklyn’s 132-100 loss on Friday night.
Then, in his second career game, the Nets went to their rookie in crunch time. Down one with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, Timme caught the ball at the top of the key. He handed the ball off to a curling Tyrese Martin and cut towards the basket.
Martin drove hard and threw a perfect pass to the cutting Timme, who laid the ball in just before Wizards center JT Thor pinged the attempt off the backboard.
However, Thor was a second late. The referees signaled defensive goaltending, counting the basket and giving Timme his first career game-winning shot.
Timme’s game-winner gave the Nets a 115-112 win, giving Brooklyn their 24th win of the season. He finished with 19 points and six rebounds off the bench on an efficient 9-14 from the field.
In his third game against the Dallas Mavericks, Timme battled against the Mavericks’ defensive frontcourt of Anthony Davis and Daniel Gafford. Despite the tough interior defense, Timme drained a three and scored six points in the final frame to help lift the Nets to a 113-109 comeback victory.
In his first three games in the league, Timme has epitomized instant offense off the bench, with his 30 combined points across his first two NBA games tying a Nets record with Derrick Coleman, the team’s No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 NBA Draft.
With his signature celebration, post moves and ability to shoot the long ball, Timme has found himself a home in Brooklyn, and will likely play alongside Nic Claxton under the Barclays lights in the foreseeable future.
