Meet Grant Nelson: Brooklyn's Intriguing Big Man

After spending five seasons in college and earning his first taste of NBA action last season, Grant Nelson is looking to continue building toward a permanent spot in the league.

The 6-foot-11, 230-pound forward/center is part of the Brooklyn Nets' 2026 Summer League roster after splitting last season between Brooklyn and the Long Island Nets. However, he has yet to appear in Las Vegas as he continues recovering from the patellar tendinitis that ended his 2025-26 season.

Even though he isn't on Brooklyn's full-time roster, Nelson is one of the organization's more interesting developmental players. He showed enough during his first professional season to earn an NBA call-up, and with another year in the system, he'll have a chance to compete for a bigger role once he's healthy.

Nelson played the first three seasons of his college career at North Dakota State before transferring to Alabama for his final two years.

He came off the bench as a freshman, averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds in 27 games while earning Summit League Sixth Man of the Year honors. His role expanded as a sophomore, when he averaged 11.6 points and 4.9 rebounds after moving into the starting lineup.

Everything came together during his junior season in 2022-23. Nelson averaged 17.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.7 blocks and 0.8 steals while shooting 52.1% from the field in 30.6 minutes per game. He earned First Team All-Summit League and All-Defensive Team honors and established himself as one of the top players in the conference.

Instead of staying in the draft, Nelson transferred to Alabama ahead of the 2023-24 season to test himself in the SEC. His numbers dipped in a different role, but he became an important piece on one of the country's best teams. He averaged 11.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while helping the Crimson Tide reach the program's first Final Four.

One of the biggest moments of his college career came in the Sweet 16 against North Carolina, where he finished with 24 points, 12 rebounds and five blocks to help send Alabama to the Elite Eight.

Nelson returned for one final season in 2024-25 and averaged 11.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks as Alabama made another run to the Elite Eight before he declared for the 2025 NBA Draft.

After going undrafted in 2025, Nelson signed an Exhibit 10 contract with Brooklyn and appeared in all five Summer League games, averaging 6.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 19.1 minutes per game.

He was waived following training camp but remained in the organization after joining the Long Island Nets. Nelson made the most of the opportunity, averaging 12.8 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 0.9 blocks while shooting 55.6% from the field in 17 G League games.

His play with Long Island was enough for Brooklyn to reward him with a 10-day contract in late February, giving him his first NBA opportunity. Nelson appeared in four games for the Nets, averaging 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists while showing he could provide energy and versatility off the bench.

Unfortunately, his season ended soon after because of patellar tendinitis. Had he stayed healthy, there's a strong chance Brooklyn would have brought him back on another 10-day contract before the regular season ended.

That same injury is also why Nelson hasn't played during this year's Summer League despite remaining on Brooklyn's roster.

What makes Nelson intriguing is how well he moves for a player his size.

At 6-foot-11, he's much more than a traditional big man. He runs the floor extremely well, is comfortable handling the ball in transition, and can attack slower defenders off the dribble. He's also a willing passer who can keep the offense moving through dribble handoffs and quick decisions.

Nelson does most of his damage around the basket as a cutter, roller, and transition finisher. His athleticism allows him to finish above the rim, and he's shown the ability to grab a rebound and push the ball himself rather than immediately looking for an outlet pass.

Defensively, his length and mobility give him the tools to guard multiple frontcourt positions while also providing help as a weak-side rim protector. He plays with a high motor, rebounds well, and consistently brings energy on both ends of the floor.

The biggest question is whether he can become a reliable outside shooter. Nelson shot just 27% from three over his final two college seasons, making perimeter shooting the biggest swing skill in his development. Adding strength will also be important as he continues adjusting to the size and physicality of NBA frontcourts.

Even though Nelson hasn't been able to suit up during Summer League, he still looks like someone Brooklyn values.

The organization kept him around after training camp last year, gave him consistent minutes in Long Island, and eventually rewarded him with an NBA call-up. That's usually a good sign of how a team views a young player.

Nelson also fits the type of player Brooklyn has prioritized throughout its rebuild. He's athletic, versatile, still just 24 years old, and has already spent a full season learning the organization's system.

Chaney Johnson and Tyler Bilodeau currently occupy two of the Nets' three two-way contract spots, leaving one opening entering training camp. Assuming he's healthy, Nelson should be one of the leading candidates to earn that final spot.

He's already shown he can produce in the G League, and Brooklyn has seen enough to give him NBA minutes once before. If he picks up where he left off after recovering from his injury, another opportunity with the Nets could be right around the corner.

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