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Nets Bring Back Grant Nelson on Two-Way Contract
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- Nets Bring Back Grant Nelson on Two-Way Contract
Nets Bring Back Grant Nelson on Two-Way Contract
(Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images)
The Brooklyn Nets are bringing Grant Nelson back for another season.
Brooklyn and Nelson have agreed to a two-way contract, his agent Max Wiepking of Gersh Basketball told Michael Scotto of HoopsHype.
The deal gives Nelson another opportunity to develop within the Nets organization after he impressed the team during his brief NBA stint last season.
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Nelson, 24, went undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft before signing with Brooklyn and eventually joining the Long Island Nets, where he spent most of his rookie season. The 7-foot forward/center established himself as one of Long Island's more productive frontcourt players, appearing in 23 games and averaging 11.1 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 1.3 assists in 19.3 minutes per game while shooting 54.9% from the field and 80.9% from the free-throw line.
That production earned Nelson his first NBA opportunity in late February when the Nets signed him to a 10-day contract.
Nelson appeared in four games during the 10-day stint, recording 17 points, six rebounds and five assists across 35 total minutes. His role was limited, but he made enough of an impression for Brooklyn to keep him in the team's plans.
The Nets ultimately did not sign Nelson to a second 10-day contract. His season also came to an early end after he was diagnosed with patellar tendinitis, commonly known as jumper's knee.
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Nelson returned to the Long Island Nets in March but did not play again for the rest of the season as he dealt with the injury.
The injury also kept Nelson sidelined during the Nets' 2026 Summer League campaign. Although he was included on Brooklyn's Summer League roster, he did not participate as he continued working his way back to full health.
Now, Nelson will have a chance to build on what he showed last season.
The Nets already have Chaney Johnson and Tyler Bilodeau occupying their other two-way spots, making Nelson the third player on a two-way contract. His deal will allow him to split time between Brooklyn and Long Island while remaining eligible to appear in up to 50 games for the Nets during the regular season.
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Nelson's return gives Brooklyn another young frontcourt player to work with as the organization continues developing its roster.
His combination of size, athleticism, and versatility made him an intriguing prospect coming out of college. Nelson spent three seasons at North Dakota State before transferring to Alabama, where he helped the Crimson Tide reach the Final Four in 2024 and the Elite Eight again in 2025.
The biggest question for Nelson entering his second professional season will be how he looks after recovering from the knee injury. Before getting hurt, though, he had already shown Brooklyn enough to earn an NBA opportunity.
Now, he'll get to build on that experience with a full season ahead of him.
If Nelson can stay healthy, the two-way deal gives him plenty of time to show the Nets that his four-game NBA stint was only the beginning.
