Drew Timme, who inked a multi-year contract with the Brooklyn Nets in March with his option exercised in late June, is set to participate in the team`s Summer League roster in Las Vegas this July. Despite having already played nine NBA games, the ex-Gonzaga star remains grounded.
“I`m still actively trying to establish myself and remain in the league,” Timme shared in a recent conversation with CBS Sports. “Getting here was great, but you understand it can be taken away just as quickly as it was given. So, my focus is on consistently working to stay here and doing whatever is necessary. That`s my current mindset.”
Timme concluded his collegiate career as Gonzaga`s all-time leading scorer, accumulating 2,307 points. He was also a key contributor to the Zags` run to the 2021 NCAA Tournament championship game.
The 24-year-old Timme wasn`t selected in the 2023 NBA Draft but secured an Exhibit 10 contract, allowing him to continue his professional development. Since then, he has concentrated on enhancing various aspects of his game, notably his 3-point shooting, a skill he seldom utilized at Gonzaga.
“I`ve become a decent shooter now, and I`m committed to refining and building on that,” he stated. “It`s crucial in today`s game; you need to be able to hit threes.”
Timme appeared in nine games for the Nets late in the 2024-25 season, starting two of them. His debut came on March 28 against the LA Clippers, where he posted a solid 11-point, 10-rebound double-double. Yet, he quickly encountered a memorable “welcome to the NBA” instance.
“In my first game against the Clippers,” Timme recalled, “I was dribbling, and Kawhi Leonard just swiped the ball from behind me. It was like a vacuum, he just swallowed it up. I initially thought I might recover it, but then I saw it was him and realized, `Oh no, that`s the end of that.`”
Although the Nets lost that initial game, Timme scored 19 points the following day in a win over the Washington Wizards. His third NBA appearance held special significance, as he secured a victory in his home state of Texas against the Dallas Mavericks.
“Growing up as a Mavericks fan, I always dreamt of playing at the American Airlines Center,” he commented. “Being from Texas and getting to play there against the team I supported my whole childhood felt incredibly cool and surreal.”
While Timme is spending much of the summer in Brooklyn, he trains with his former high school coach and neighbor, Marc Johnson, whenever he`s back in Texas.
Timme acknowledges that remaining in the league can sometimes feel harder than initially making it, but he benefits from a strong support system. With 12 former Gonzaga players on NBA rosters during the 2024-25 season, alumni like Kelly Olynyk and Corey Kispert have provided valuable advice to help him maintain perspective.
“It`s essential to stay true to yourself, as that`s what brought you to this level,” Timme stated. “That`s really important because once you`re in the league, you hear many different opinions and feel pulled in various directions. It`s easy to lose your identity amidst all the pressure. The alumni offered me guidance on this when we played against their teams.”
The 2025 Las Vegas Summer League is scheduled for July 10-20 at the Thomas & Mack Center and Cox Pavilion. The Nets, who recently added five first-round selections in the June draft, are set to play their opening Summer League contest on July 10 against the Oklahoma City Thunder.
Jasper Hawthorne