The Long Island Nets had several individual performances worth recognizing in Friday's G League opener and after all development is the point, but they ultimately couldn't do enough to overcome the Greensboro Swarm, falling 121-111 at Novant Health Fieldhouse.
The game was close throughout with 12 lead changes and three ties. After going down 60-55 at the half, Long Island was still down only four, 87-83 at the end of the third, the Swarm took over, outscoring the Nets, 34-28. The win was a bis positive for Greensboro who began the evening by raising the G League championship banner.
Advertisement
It was a frustrating result for Long Island, considering the contributions it received from multiple players, whether on assignment from Brooklyn, two-ways or Exhibit 10s. Arguably, the biggest positive came from two-way Grant Nelson, who delivered an impressive double-double and established himself as the team's leading performer … at least for opening night.
The 24-year-old 7-footer finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds in 27 minutes. The big man was active throughout his time on the floor, shooting 8-of-16 from the field and collecting six offensive rebounds. His ability to create additional possessions off the glass gave the Nets an important presence inside. The only negative for the Alabama product was his failure to hit on any of his five 3-pointers.
Nelson added two assists, a steal and a block for a solid all-around performance. In a game that ended in a 10-point defeat, Nelson's performance was the clearest bright spot for the Nets.
Nelson's performance is an especially encouraging first step considering how limited his opportunities were last season. He appeared in just four games with Brooklyn, spending much of his time trying to establish himself despite knee issues that he says are now resolved after a summer of rehab.
Advertisement
There were also positive performances from two of the Nets 2026 picks.
Joshua Jefferson, taken with the 28th pick, had a solid showing with 15 points, six rebounds, three assists and only one turnover. The Iowa State product shot 5-of-9 from the field and connected on three of his seven attempts from beyond the arc. A 6'9", 240-pound point forward, he was selected by Brooklyn primarily because of his versatility which includes an ability to score from the perimeter while helping on the glass.
Tyler Bilodeau, the 6'9" sharpshooter taken at No. 43 in June, also provided a valuable offensive contribution, finishing with 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists. He also recorded five steals, giving Long Island an impact beyond his scoring. Bilodeau's five steals marked the highest number of thefts ever by a Long Island Nets player in a NBA G League debut.
The 2026 second-round selection out of UCLA, who like Nelson is on a two-way contract, shot 5-of-10 from the field and 3-of-7 from 3-point range.
Advertisement
On the other hand, Drake Powell, one of two members of the Flatbush 5 assigned to Long Island, had a difficult night offensively. The second year player finished with six points on 2-of-6 shooting, missing all three of his attempts from beyond the arc. He grabbed four rebounds and recorded three assists. He did record a block and a steal but the Nets needed more production from him. It was a game where his shot simply wasn't falling.
Ben Saraf, the other Brooklyn Nets player on assignment, also struggled to find his shooting touch. The 6'6" 20-year-old finished with eight points on 3-of-14 shooting from the field and just 1-of-8 from 3-point range. He had opportunities to make an impact as a scorer but couldn't get enough shots to fall. He also finished with three turnovers in 32 minutes.
There was at least one positive to take away from Saraf's performance: his playmaking. The young guard recorded a team-high seven assists, showing his ability to create opportunities. Defensively, he also added two steals. Saraf, a 2025 first-round pick who came to Brooklyn from German club Ratiopharm Ulm, is still adjusting to the NBA system and the professional game in North America.
Beyond the draft picks and two ways, there were some encouraging signs among the guys hoping to move up the G League ladder.
Advertisement
Isaiah Wong is the most experienced Long Island player, having played more than 20 games in the NBA as well as a season in the Spanish league. The 6'4" guard finished with 16 points, six steals, two assists and one rebound in 31 minutes. He shot an efficient 7-of-12 from the field and 2-of-4 from three-point range.
Dion Brown was another bright spot off the bench, recording 15 points in just 16 minutes. The St. Louis product shot 6-of-9 from the field and 3-of-5 from beyond the arc. Brown went undrafted in the 2026 NBA Draft but played well in the Summer League.
One of the most encouraging performances came from Dain Dainja, who made an immediate impression in his first game with the team. Coming off the bench, the 6'9" big with the gargantuan 7'7" wingspan finished with 16 points, six rebounds and three blocks in 21 minutes. He was efficient offensively, shooting 6-of-10 from the field.
Long Island won't have to wait long for an opportunity to respond . The Nets will remain in Greensboro for a rematch against the Swarm on Saturday, November 7, continuing the two-game opening-weekend series at Novant Health Fieldhouse.
Advertisement
After allowing 121 points in the opener, Long Island will look to make defensive adjustments and find a way to slow down Greensboro while building on the positives from Nelson's double-double and the contributions from its bench.
