Joshua Jefferson’s first game in a Brooklyn Nets uniform came with plenty of rust, but the rookie forward didn’t sound rattled afterward.
Jefferson made his Summer League debut Saturday in Brooklyn’s 83-76 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, finishing with nine points, one assist and two steals. The shooting line was rough - 1-for-8 from the field - though he did get to the foul line six times and knock down five free throws.
For Jefferson, the stat sheet wasn’t the main issue. The real challenge was the gap between games. After a four-month layoff, he was back in live action for the first time since March, and he said he also had almost no chance to get comfortable before stepping on the floor.
"I think today was my first game in like four months since March when I got hurt," Jefferson said. "It's really been a long time since I've been in a playing setting because I wasn't able to get any practice reps either."
The 22-year-old’s Iowa State season ended in March with a left ankle sprain in the NCAA Tournament, and his move to Brooklyn got pushed back even further when the trade involving Julius Randle wasn’t finalized until Friday. That delay kept him out of the California Classic and also meant he never got the benefit of practicing with his new teammates before Summer League began.
Jefferson said that unfamiliarity showed up early.
"The first half was good. Had some really good showings," Jefferson said.
"Just getting comfortable with the guys. I never played with them before, so it's going to be pretty foreign for me the first time.
But it's good to get good reps right now."
Even with the shooting numbers, Jefferson said he saw enough to feel good about where things are headed.
"I definitely think I'm going to be fine," he said. "I showed some glimpses of what I can do with the ball in my hand, so I just got to keep playing."
Jefferson is competing for rotation minutes with Julius Randle, Michael Porter Jr., and several young forwards already on the roster. For now, he’s banking on time, reps and a little more familiarity to smooth out the transition.
In Other News...
Julius Randle Sends Clear Message About Brooklyns Rebuild Patience
Julius Randle is already making the case for patience in Brooklyn, where the offseason trade that brought him in from Minnesota also signaled a broader reset. The veteran forward met with the media this week and framed the Nets approach for the coming season as one built around belief in the rosters talent, even after a brutal 20-62 finish last year.
Randle did not sugarcoat the challenge ahead, and that is part of what makes his voice matter for a team trying to climb back into relevance. Brooklyn is still leaning into development while trying to add real structure around its younger pieces, and Randles arrival gives the Nets a more established presence as they try to turn potential into something sturdier, even if the next step may be more incremental than dramatic. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Sign Joshua Jefferson To Multi-Year Deal With Real Rookie Buzz
The Nets have locked in another piece of their young core, signing forward Joshua Jefferson to a multi-year deal after taking him with the 28th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. Jefferson arrives in Brooklyn with a reputation that stretches well beyond draft night, built over four college seasons at Saint Marys and Iowa State, where he became one of the more versatile forwards in the country.
His rsum includes All-America Second Team and All-Big 12 First Team honors, plus a standout 2025-26 season that put him in rare company nationwide. Jefferson led Division I in triple-doubles and set a Big 12 mark for multiple triple-doubles in conference play, the kind of production that gives the Nets a different sort of frontcourt option as they continue shaping the roster around their latest wave of talent. [Read more 🡒]
Joshua Jefferson Just Got His First Real Nets Test
Joshua Jefferson finally got a real look in a Nets uniform in Las Vegas, and it came only after the trade that brought Julius Randle to Brooklyn was officially finalized on Friday. The rookie forward made his Summer League debut with nine points and two steals, giving the Nets a first glimpse of a player whose passing and feel are part of what intrigued them in the first place.
For Jefferson, it was also his first competitive game since March after an injury interrupted his spring and kept him from even getting practice reps. He sounded confident about how his game can translate into Brooklyns rotation, especially with the way he sees the floor and keeps the ball moving, but the bigger question is where that skill set fits once the roster is set and the minutes start getting divided up. [Read more 🡒]