Is the future of the Brooklyn Nets sitting on the bench? The squad’s second unit ranks in the top 10 in points, rebounds, assists and steals.

Coming off their 36th loss of the season, there are very few positives for the Brooklyn Nets. Having failed to overcome the loss of their key offseason signing, Jeremy Lin, who has only suited up 12 times, the team is on pace to win less than 20 games this season.

For most teams, such a season would result in hopes of landing the first pick in the draft, but due to an unsavory trade with the Boston Celtics in 2013, Nets fans do not have that luxury. Instead, they must rely on the savviness of general manager Sean Marks as he continues to build a serviceable NBA roster.

In the midst of such an abysmal season, the lone bright spot has been the play of the Brooklyn Nets second unit. Ranking in the top ten in points (43.7), rebounds (19.8), assists (8.9) and steals (3.6), the Nets bench have tried valiantly to keep the team alive in games.

Players like Caris LaVert, Isaiah Whitehead and Sean Kilpatrick have periodically shown flashes of potential under the tutelage of Head Coach Kenny Atkinson.

Join us as we break the bench down further:

Isaiah Whitehead

Rotating between the starting lineup and the bench, Isaiah Whitehead has been forced to assume a point guard role he is ill-equipped to play.

More of a combo-guard, Whitehead has struggled to run the offense, although he leads the Nets in assists at only 2.8 per game. Recently removed from the starting lineup, he has begun to find his footing in the NBA, facing other teams’ second units.

In Monday’s losing effort against the Spurs, Whitehead tallied a career-high 19 points off the bench. His speed and determination to get to the basket manifested itself, showing he has the potential to provide the Nets with much-needed offensive firepower.

Sean Kilpatrick

Second-year undrafted player, Sean Kilpatrick, has, at times, been the best player on the floor for the Nets. Taking advantage of his opportunity, Kilpatrick has scored in double figures 32 times this season and delivered eight games where he scored 20 or more points.

On Nov. 29, Kilpatrick had his best game as a professional against the Los Angeles Clippers, scoring 38 points and pulling down 14 rebounds in the Nets overtime win.

Without a proven shooting guard, Kilpatrick assumed the reigns early in the season, earning valuable playing time and solidifying his position in the Nets future plans. His athleticism and scoring prowess make him an ideal wing player in Coach Atkinson’s system.

Caris LeVert

First-year player Caris LeVert has been the most intriguing Net this season. After missing a quarter of the season due to injury, LeVert has started to assert himself and has shown glimpses of his ability to dominate a game.

With his capacity to create offense for himself and an improving perimeter game, LaVert will get every opportunity to prove he belongs in the NBA. However, with such a small sample size and Coach Atkinson’s desire to slowly incorporate him into the team, the jury is still out on the Nets first round pick. Although experts question whether he will be able to stay healthy and consistently defend in the NBA, things could be promising for the 6-foot-7 shooting guard.

With 37 games remaining this season, LeVert and the rest of the Brooklyn Nets bench must continue to improve and finish the season strong. With an encouraging core of young players and the franchise in the hands of GM Sean Marks, the future looks bright for the Nets.