His weight is down and, Anthony Bennett hopes, his history stays in the past. So the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 NBA draft focuses only on the present, but readily admits one big difference in life as a Net.

Confidence.

“Honestly, it’s just my mental state,” Bennett said Tuesday after Nets practice, when asked for the biggest difference in his makeup. “The game part has pretty much been taken care of, but with me it’s being more confident, being more free, not being robotic out there. That’s the biggest thing. I feel it’s helped me a whole lot, them just letting me go out there and giving me a chance to play.”

“Them” would be the Nets brass, notably coach Kenny Atkinson, who rolls out a team usually overmatched in talent but rarely outdone in effort. Bennett, still just 23 in his fourth NBA season, is one of the young guys the Nets hope to develop into a gem.

Bennett’s tale is well-known, going from team (Cavaliers) to team (T’wolves) to team (Raptors) to team (Nets) in four seasons. But the Nets took a free-agent chance.

On the night Bennett was picked No. 1, the Nets made a disastrous trade with the Celtics, Wednesday’s opponent at Barclays Center. They gave up three first-rounders and the right to swap picks in 2017. The Celtics took Jaylen Brown with what was the Nets’ pick in June. So it may hurt when Brown takes the floor.

“Every guy we’ve signed for whatever reason, we’ve got to turn into a really good first-round pick. That’s the way we look at it,” Atkinson said. “That [trade] is part of the past and it never really enters my mind.”

But it enters fans’ minds. That’s why the ex-general manager Billy King VooDoo Doll (makes a great holiday gift) gets repeatedly stuck by fans’ pins. So guys like Bennett are essential for the Nets’ survival.

In a decidedly small sample, during his last three games, the 6-foot-8, 240-pound Bennett produced 24 points and 14 rebounds in 52 minutes. That includes a season-high 12 points against the Thunder in 21 minutes. In the eight games in which he’s appeared this season, he has averaged 5.6 points and 2.6 rebounds.

“I like what he’s shown when he gets a chance, he’s ready to take it. He’s shown what he worked on the whole offseason. He’s prepared,” said teammate Brook Lopez.

“He’s shown the staff, some real positive things — rebounding the ball, which is a weakness for us. He has the ability on offense to make the 3. He can play pick-and-roll. He’s pretty versatile. We’re going to have to look [for ways] to get him in,” Atkinson said.

“He came in here early in the summer, spent three weeks with us before he was even signed, which was a tell-tale sign this guy wants to prove himself. His work ethic has been fantastic. … A lot with Anthony is confidence. Going through all he went through, we’re in the process of building him up. Keep building him up and saying, ‘You’re a darn good player and you’ve got a future in this league.’ ”

Which Bennett appreciates hearing. For three years, he heard what he didn’t do. Now he hears what he does do.

“It’s just always staying ready. I never know when my name is going to be called. All that happened in the past, I’ve kind of put it behind me,” said Bennett, who wants to show one thing above all.

“That I can play. People doubted me, said I lacked skill. I’m just trying to stay consistent, use my minutes wisely and do what I can with the opportunity. Coming in, I was too young,” Bennett said, before referring to a May 2013 shoulder operation. “Definitely was eating bad after surgery. I was overweight by like 20, 30 pounds. Now, I’m focused, watching what I eat.

“The coaches are always encouraging me. They say they like my game, so I’ve just go to improve every day. I’m in a good situation.”