Brooklyn Nets fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about Day'Ron Sharpe's development, but one area of his game that's truly taken off is his finishing at the rim. The 24-year-old center has quietly transformed into one of the league's most reliable backup big men, and his work around the basket is a big reason why.

Sharpe recently opened up about the secret behind his improved rim finishing during his end-of-season exit interview, and it all comes down to a simple message from assistant coach Juwan Howard: patience. "Credit to working out with Juwan," Sharpe explained. "He's always telling me to be patient, just watching clips every game and showing the times."

Howard, a former NBA All-Star who knows a thing or two about playing in the paint, has been drilling one key concept into Sharpe's head: use your size. "Why you rushing right there? You're big. I realize that too. You're bigger than what you think," Sharpe recalled. "So, just taking your time every time. He just pushed it to me over the last two years, especially last season."

The results speak for themselves. Before this season, Sharpe shot 65.9% from 0-3 feet—the distance that defines true rim finishing. In the 2025-26 campaign, that number jumped to an impressive 75.1%, making him a far more consistent scoring threat inside. He finished the season averaging 8.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game while shooting a stellar 60.1% from the field.

Sharpe also credits his recovery from a previous wrist injury for part of his improvement. "I'm stronger, my wrist is getting back to normal," he said. "I'd say that credit goes to this season."

Unfortunately, Sharpe's breakout campaign was cut short by a UCL tear in his left thumb, but his growth didn't go unnoticed. Howard has praised Sharpe's work ethic and natural ability, and with the Nets holding a $6.25 million team option on his contract, it's clear they have a valuable piece in their frontcourt rotation. For a player who's learned to slow down and trust his size, the future looks bright in Brooklyn.