Long Island Nets to hold open tryouts for locals hoping to follow David Nwaba’s path

This is how David Nwaba, the Nets swingman, got his start.

On September 7 in Brooklyn and again on September 21 in Brookville on the Island, the Long Island Nets will hold open tryouts for local hoopers who think they have the goods to play pro ball. Up to 150 players will be able to showcase their talents to Brooklyn Nets and Long Island Nets coaching staff and basketball operations staff

The tryouts, open to people 18 years old and up, will be held at Aviator Sports and Events Center in Brooklyn on September 7 and and at LIU’s Pratt Center in Brookville two weeks later. Both workouts are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., with a 9 a.m. check-in time, and will feature drills and scrimmages run by basketball operations personnel for both the Brooklyn Nets and Long Island Nets.

Nwaba, the 6’4” Californian, started his NBA career with a local tryout. After graduating from Cal Poly in 2016 with a sociology degree, Nwaba headed to Reno, Nevada to tryout for the Reno Bighorns. The Bighorns signed him but later traded his rights to the Los Angeles D-Fenders of the then D-League Nwaba joined the D-Fenders for training camp and made the opening-night roster. Four months later, the Lakers called Nwaba up. Three weeks after that, he signed a multi-year deal with the Lakers.

Since then, Nwaba has earned more than $3 million in his NBA career and last month signed a two-year deal with the Nets that could pay him another $4 million. Not a bad return on his registration fee.

The Brooklyn tryout has a $175 non-refundable registration fee and is open to the first 100 participants. The Long Island tryout has a $150 non-refundable registration fee and is open to the first 150 participants.

Aspiring players can register for either tryout online at the Long Island Nets’ website. If there still are available spots on the day of each tryout, walk-up registrations will be permitted with a $200 fee.

The Long Island tryout will be open to the viewing public for a $5 admission fee. All of the proceeds from admission will go toward the Nets Foundation.

In addition to Nwaba’s success story, the Long Island Nets have signed several players from local tryouts in recent seasons, including former Seton Hall forward Ismael Sanogo last year and Brentwood native J.J. Moore and former Molloy star Charlie Marquardt in 2017-2018 (Moore tried out in 2016 and Marquardt in 2017).

• Long Island Nets to hold two local tryouts in September - Nick Klopsis - Newsday