Like other NBA clubs, the Nets are restocking their G League roster starting with Tyson Etienne.
It’s that time of the off-season when NBA teams begin signing — then waiving — players, part of a dance aimed at filling out their G League rosters. And Tuesday afternoon, the Brooklyn Nets entered the process by signing Tyson Etienne, a 6’2” point guard who for the last two years played for the College Park Skyhawks, the Atlanta Hawks affiliate.
Etienne will be the first in a series of such moves the Nets will make in the next few weeks. By signing Etienne who played college ball at Wichita State, they will make him eligible for a $75,000 bonus and a roster spot on Long Island. (The Long Island Nets traded for Etienne’s G League rights last week, sending the rights to veteran G Leaguer Kaiser Gates — now playing in the Spanish league — to College Park in return. Without his G League rights, Etienne couldn’t join Long Island once released.)
Etienne, a native of Englewood, N.J., appeared in 52 regular season games (13 starts) across two seasons with College Park Skyhawks and recorded averages of 7.6 points, 1.7 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 19.0 minutes per contest. He also appeared in 32 NBA G League Showcase Cup games for the Skyhawks during both seasons and posted averages of 9.4 points, 2.4 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 23.4 minutes per game.
Prior to beginning his professional career, Etienne earned 2021 American Athletic Conference Player of the Year honors during his final season with the Shockers.