Nate Oats beams as former Alabama star Grant Nelson secures a Brooklyn Nets 10-day contract, showcasing his G League dominance and collegiate Final Four run.
If you watched Alabama basketball the past couple of seasons, you knew Grant Nelson was built for more than just college hoops.
Now, he’s getting the chance to prove it on the biggest stage in the world.
On Friday, Feb. 27, the Brooklyn Nets signed the former Crimson Tide big man to a 10-day contract, rewarding the hard work he’s put in since leaving Tuscaloosa. And honestly? This feels earned.
Nelson has been grinding with the Long Island Nets in the G League, quietly putting together a strong start, averaging 11 points and six rebounds per game while shooting better than 55 percent from the floor.
That’s not empty production either.
That’s efficiency.
That’s toughness.
That’s doing the little things that get you noticed.
Alabama head coach Nate Oats, who knows exactly what Nelson brings, didn’t hide how excited he was when the news broke.
“I was super happy to hear it,” Oats said. “He’s got great size, he’s super athletic, he’s tough, he’s skilled. Hopefully he can stay healthy and get his jumper down.”
That quote says everything. Nelson has always had the tools, 6-foot-11 size, elite mobility, toughness, and the ability to impact a game without needing plays called for him. He was a huge part of Alabama’s historic run to the Final Four and another deep push to the Elite Eight. When the lights were bright, he showed up.
Going undrafted in 2025 didn’t stop him.
If anything, it just added fuel.
He signed with Brooklyn with hopes of earning a two-way deal, took the G League route, and kept working.
No complaining.
No excuses.
Just basketball.
Oats believes the biggest key to Nelson sticking in the NBA will be consistency, especially with his shot.
“I hope he shines,” Oats added, noting that if Nelson can shoot it consistently, “he can stick.”
And he’s right. In today’s NBA, a long, athletic forward who can defend multiple positions, rebound, run the floor, and knock down shots is incredibly valuable. Nelson checks almost every one of those boxes.
The Nets face the Boston Celtics on Friday night, and whether Nelson gets significant minutes or not, this moment matters. Getting that first call-up means organizations believe you belong.
For Alabama fans, it’s another reminder of what Nate Oats is building in Tuscaloosa: a program that develops players ready for the next level.
For Grant Nelson, it’s simple.
The door is open.
Now it’s time to kick it down.