Nets sign former college star to two-way contract ahead of training camp

The Brooklyn Nets filled their final open roster spot on Friday, signing forward Grant Nelson to a two-way contract. Nelson spent time with Brooklyn and the Long Island Nets in 2025-26 before patellar tendinitis cut his season short.

Nelson did not appear in a Summer League game with the Nets. However, he was on the roster and traveled with the team to Sacramento and Las Vegas while continuing his rehab.

Welcome back, Grant! pic.twitter.com/8HWlYSGala

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) September 4, 2026

The 6-foot-10 forward appeared in only four NBA games with Brooklyn last season. He averaged 4.3 points, 1.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 blocks while shooting 55.6 percent from the field in 8.8 minutes per night. Nelson saw considerably more run with the Nets’ G League affiliate.

He appeared in 17 games with Long Island, averaging 12.8 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists on .556/.200/.825 shooting splits in 20.7 minutes per night. The 24-year-old impressed with his size and motor on both ends during his limited game action.

Nets sign Grant Nelson to two-way contract as training camp nears

While he’s an older prospect, Nelson is early in his NBA development after five college seasons. The North Dakota native played his last two college seasons at Alabama after spending his first three campaigns at North Dakota State. He was productive for the Crimson Tide as a senior, averaging 11.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.2 blocks on .522/.258/.667 shooting splits.

Nelson was the No. 62 player on ESPN’s top 100 big board entering the 2025 draft. He went undrafted before signing an Exhibit 10 contract with the Nets.

“From the beginning, they had interest,” Nelson said last Summer after signing with Brooklyn. “I figured out I’d go undrafted, and then I just saw [Brooklyn] would be the best opportunity. They believed in me, they believed in my development, so I felt like it was a good step for me to come here, learn a lot… They said great things [about me], and they wanted me there. So I think it just came down to, like, who was going to buy in on my development? And I feel like the Nets were the best spot.”

Nelson marks the third forward to join the Nets on a two-way contract this offseason. Brooklyn signed Tyler Bilodeau to a two-way deal after selecting him with the No. 43 pick in this year’s draft. They also inked Chandey Johnson to a two-way contract following an impressive Summer League.

Nelson will face an uphill battle to earn NBA minutes in a crowded forward rotation.

In addition to Bilodeau and Johnson, the Nets acquired three-time All-Star Julius Randle from the Minnesota Timberwolves this summer. Randle is projected to start alongside Michael Porter Jr. this season. Brooklyn will also have first-round picks Danny Wolf, Noah Clowney and Joshua Jefferson vying for minutes at forward in the second unit.

Clowney started 60 games for the Nets last season, averaging 12.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists while shooting 39.6 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from three. Wolf spent time with Brooklyn and Long Island, showing impressive early flashes before struggling to close the season.

Meanwhile, Jefferson was a standout for Iowa State, averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.6 steals on .474/.345/.700 shooting splits. He was the nation’s only player to average those marks with such efficiency.

The Nets have filled their standard and two-way roster spots as training camp nears. Brooklyn will look to take a step forward in 2026-27 following two tanking seasons.

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