How has Noah Clowney’s adjustment to the NBA been going since the Brooklyn Nets selected the Alabama center 21st in the draft on June 22?

“This is all new to me,” Clowney said at the Nets’ media day. “It’s more off the court than even on the court, like I ain’t never had to go grocery shopping for stuff to cook. I never had to do none of that. They always fed me. A bunch of stuff like that. Laundry basket, I didn’t know which one to buy. I can make spaghetti and be boiling hot dogs some days. I can’t make much of nothing. But I be talking to Marlon (Facey), our chef. We’re going to learn something.”

MORE NBA:

· UTAH CENTER WALKER KESSLER’S GOAL: ‘BRINGING IT EVERY NIGHT’

· JAZZ GUARD COLLIN SEXTON HOPES TO PUT 2 SEASONS OF INJURIES BEHIND HIM

· BRANDON MILLER BACKS BRYCE YOUNG ACROSS SPORTS IN CHARLOTTE

On the court, Clowney is trying to learn the NBA game for Brooklyn’s veterans and coaches.

“I was really encouraged,” Clowney said, “… when I realized we had good people on the team because in this industry I know there can be a lot of people who are not good people, we would say. But they’re good people. They talk to us like normal people. They don’t treat us any different than they would any other human. It’s been good for me.”

Clowney started all 36 games during his only season at Alabama. He averaged 9.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as the Crimson Tide won the SEC regular-season and tournament crowns, earned the No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament and won two games in the Big Dance before losing to eventual national finalist San Diego State.

Clowney joins the Nets as they turn the page after their Superstar Era failed to yield the desired results. Brooklyn had a 45-37 record in the 2022-23 regular season to make its fifth straight playoff trip. But the Nets lost in the first round for the fourth time in those five years.

Ten-time All-Star James Harden forced his way out of Brooklyn during the 2021-22 season, the Nets fired Hall of Fame player Steve Nash as their coach seven games into last season and, during 2023, Brooklyn met the requests of eight-time All-Star Kyrie Irving and 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant to be traded.

At 6-foot-10, Clowney is expected to help Brooklyn at power forward and center.

At center, Nic Claxton averaged 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game for Brooklyn last season. At power forward, Cameron Johnson and Dorian Finney-Smith picked up their play after joining the Nets in trades two-thirds of the way through last season. And coach Jacque Vaughn said Day’Ron Sharpe would get an opportunity around the basket after two seasons of limited minutes with the Nets.

Clowney averaged 4.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.0 steals and 1.4 blocks in 19.4 minutes in five games for Brooklyn’s NBA 2K24 Summer League team in July.

Since Summer League, Clowney said he’s had a simple focus: “Getting better.”

The Nets will tip off the 2023-24 season on Oct. 25 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Brooklyn’s four-game preseason schedule starts at 8 p.m. CDT Monday when the Nets visit the Los Angeles Lakers. Brooklyn also plays Ra’anana Maccabi Ra’anana from Israel on Thursday, the Philadelphia 76ers on Oct. 16 and the Miami Heat on Oct. 18.

The approach of the season also has triggered another learning experience for Clowney: Dealing with the New York media.

“It’s different from college,” Clowney said. “In college, we don’t get as much screen time. It’s just hooping really. It’s a whole lot more than I’ve been used to. It’s been fun.”

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.