June 24, 2026, 6:54 p.m. PT<\/p>\n
UCLA Bruin<\/a> Tyler Bilodeau<\/a> knows his new home. The forward began his NBA career on Wednesday by getting selected by the Brooklyn Nets<\/a> with the No. 43 overall pick of the 2026 NBA Draft.<\/p>\n Bilodeau is the first, and very likely only, Bruin to get taken in this year\u2019s NBA draft. Bilodeau becomes the first UCLA player taken since Adem Bona in 2024. Aday Mara<\/a> was taken in the first round on Tuesday, but Bona ended his NCAA career with Michigan after spending two years with the Bruins<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Nets are still in a rebuild, meaning that Bilodeau will have every opportunity to earn his way into some playing time. Brooklyn selected Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. but the Nets have plenty of other young players. Brooklyn snagged four first round picks in last year\u2019s draft, adding onto their young core.<\/p>\n Bilodeau will be competing for backup minutes behind the newly-acquired Julius Randle. Randle was traded from the Minnesota Timberwolves in a cap-clearing move for Minnesota but Randle is still a three-time All-Star who\u2019s coming off of averaging 21.1 points-per-game last year.\u00a0<\/p>\n With the Bruins last year, Bilodeau averaged 17.6 points per game with 5.6 rebounds while shooting an impressive 46% from three. Bilodeau\u2019s ability to be physical while stretching the floor from deep is highly sought after in today\u2019s NBA.<\/p>\n Need a news break? Check out the all new PLAY hub with puzzles, games and more!<\/a><\/p>\n