{"id":18003,"date":"2025-07-18T03:54:14","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T03:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/18003\/"},"modified":"2025-07-18T03:54:14","modified_gmt":"2025-07-18T03:54:14","slug":"grant-nelson-takes-black-eye-motor-to-nba-2k26-summer-league-with-nets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/18003\/","title":{"rendered":"Grant Nelson takes black eye, motor to NBA 2K26 Summer League with Nets"},"content":{"rendered":"

Former Alabama <\/a>standout Grant Nelson showed up at the NBA 2K26 Summer League sporting a shiner.<\/p>\n

Nelson said he got the black left eye during preparations for the 11-day event in Las Vegas with his new team, the Brooklyn Nets.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt our minicamp, I was cutting, and someone\u2019s elbow just came, clocked me on a cut,\u201d Nelson said<\/a>. \u201cI didn\u2019t really see much after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

In two seasons at Alabama, Nelson averaged 11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 blocked shots in 74 games.<\/p>\n

Nelson signed with Brooklyn after going unselected in the NBA Draft on June 25-26.<\/p>\n

\u201cFrom the beginning, they had interest,\u201d Nelson said<\/a>. \u201cI figured out I would go undrafted, and then I just saw that this would be the best opportunity. They believe in me. They believe in my development, so I felt like it was a good step for me to come here and learn a lot. And I feel like it\u2019s been going pretty good so far.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nelson joined the Nets even though they already had five rookies added during the 2025 NBA Draft \u2013 BYU guard Egor Demin at No. 8, French guard Nolan Traore at No. 19, Israeli guard Ben Saraf at No. 26, Michigan forward Danny Wolf at No. 27 and Arkansas forward Adou Thiero at No. 36.<\/p>\n

The 6-foot-11 Nelson said he\u2019s hoping to land Brooklyn\u2019s remaining two-way contract for the 2025-26 season. A two-way contract allows the Nets to move a player between the NBA roster and their NBA Gatorade League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, without the need to expose him to waivers. <\/p>\n

Brooklyn traded with the Denver Nuggets earlier this month and got a starting power forward in Michael Porter Jr. Former Alabama standout Noah Clowney<\/a> is on that depth-chart line, too, along with Wolf.<\/p>\n

RELATED: NOAH CLOWNEY PUTTING INJURY-FILLED NBA SEASON BEHIND HIM<\/a><\/p>\n

At center, Nic Claxton is back for a fourth season in the spot for the Nets. Reserve Day\u2019Ron Sharpe returns, with Wolf and former Gonzaga star Drew Timme in the reserve mix, too.<\/p>\n

\u201cI try not to think too far ahead,\u201d Nelson said<\/a>. \u201cFor right now, I\u2019m really trying to lock in on the roles I\u2019m told to do. Like I said, rebounding the ball, guarding one through five. \u2026<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I mean, it\u2019s impossible not to think of what I can become and what I\u2019m trying to be as a player. But I\u2019m really just looking to get on the court right now and do things to get that two-way. I think it\u2019s me focusing on right now what I can do to help this team win.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brooklyn\u2019s summer-league team will complete its schedule against the Philadelphia 76ers at 5 p.m. CDT Friday at Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

In the Nets\u2019 first four games in Las Vegas, Nelson has averaged 4.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 17.9 minutes per game. <\/p>\n

\u201cThey said my role going into the game was have my motor that I\u2019ve played with my whole life,\u201d Nelson said <\/a>after his first summer-league appearance last week, \u201cand then just do things to help the team win, whether it\u2019s crashing the glass or getting stops defensively. I think really just stepping into that, doing what the coaches ask of me and then just going out there trying to do whatever I can to help the team win. I think that\u2019s what\u2019s going to be the best for not only this team, but for myself.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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