Brooklyn Nets forward Grant Nelson drives to the basket during an NBA game against the Boston Celtics on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at TD Garden in Boston.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa) Brooklyn Nets forward Grant Nelson drives to the basket during an NBA game against the Boston Celtics on Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, at TD Garden in Boston.(AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Brooklyn Nets forward Grant Nelson made his NBA debut Friday night after inking a 10-day contract earlier in the day, marking a milestone moment in a journey that began in rural North Dakota.
Nelson checked in with 9:50 remaining against the Boston Celtics and played the rest of the game as Brooklyn fell 148-111 at TD Garden. He scored his first NBA basket on a dunk off a feed from Ochai Agbaji with 6:50 left. Nelson later split a pair of free throws to finish with three points, adding one rebound, four assists and two blocked shots in under 10 minutes. He became the 13th player this season to record at least four assists while playing fewer than 10 minutes.
Nelson’s path to the league started in Devils Lake, where he was a multi-sport standout and one of the state’s top basketball prospects. He began his college career at North Dakota State Bison men’s basketball, developing into a versatile 6-foot-11 forward known for his ball-handling and perimeter shooting. Across three seasons at NDSU, he emerged as one of the Summit League’s most dynamic players before transferring to Alabama Crimson Tide men’s basketball to test himself in the SEC.
After two seasons at Alabama, Nelson signed with Brooklyn as an undrafted free agent. He has spent most of the 2025-26 campaign with the Long Island Nets, averaging 11.1 points and 5.9 rebounds in 23 games. A left knee issue sidelined him for nearly two months following the NBA 2K26 Summer League, but he recently returned to the starting lineup.
With the win, Boston improved to 39-20, while Brooklyn dropped to 15-44. The Nets next host the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center.
Comments