The Brooklyn Nets added Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night at Barclays Center.

The pick came to Brooklyn as part of the Julius Randle trade with Minnesota, where the Nets moved up five spots from No. 33. It was Brooklyn's second first-round selection of the night, having already taken Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. at No. 6.

Jefferson wasn't invited to the Green Room but showed up to the draft anyway. When his name was called, he made his way down from the stands to share a moment with commissioner Adam Silver. It was a fitting end to a college career that saw him go from a fringe prospect to a confirmed first-round pick.

Jefferson entered his final season at Iowa State as a borderline NBA prospect. He left it as a consensus All-American, averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.6 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. That production across the board is what moved him into the first round conversation and kept him there.

Speaking to reporters after being drafted, Jefferson said:

"Just seeing what they need for their team, they felt that I fit in a lot of spots because of my versatility. I think I'm where I need to be. The Nets took a great chance with me, and I'm very thankful for that. Jefferson said, via Eugene Rapay of the Des Moines Register.

He was clear about how he plans to approach his rookie year alongside veterans Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr.

"So much knowledge between the two, and I'm just going to be a sponge. Asking them questions all the time and learning as much as I can. They've been through the ups and downs of the league, and it's going to be on me to make sure that I'm seeking information," Jefferson said.

That playmaking ability is exactly what Brooklyn is buying into. Jefferson registered a 27.7 assist percentage at Iowa State, a number scouts love to see from frontcourt players, and he fits the high-IQ profile the Nets have been building alongside Mikel Brown Jr., Egor Demin, Nolan Traore and Ben Saraf.

He is also an adaptable defender who can guard multiple positions, switch assignments, disrupt passing lanes, and make plays off the ball. His size and feel for the game give Brooklyn a connective piece off the bench from day one.

His jump shot remains a work in progress, particularly from three-point range, and he tested poorly in athletic drills. Those are real limitations. But for a rebuilding Nets team with no playoff pressure, Jefferson gets the room to work through those gaps without consequence, something a contender simply could not offer him.

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