Brooklyn Nets rookie forward Joshua Jefferson finally got his first taste of NBA summer league action on Saturday, and he left with a clearer picture of where he stands after a long layoff.
Jefferson logged nine points and two steals in Brooklyn’s 83-76 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in Las Vegas, but his shooting line told part of the story too: he went 1-of-8 from the field. Afterward, he pointed to the gap between games as a major factor.
"Definitely. I think today was my first game in like four months since March when I got hurt. So, 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," Jefferson said to the media following Saturday's 83-76 loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
Even with the rust, Jefferson said he saw enough to feel encouraged about what comes next.
"So, I definitely think I'm gonna be fine. I showed some glimpses today of what I can do with the ball in my hand so I just got to keep playing," Jefferson continued before explaining how his skillset fits with Brooklyn's roster.
"I think just the way my passing can affect the game, making everybody feel involved, get the ball flying around. It's easy to guard people when the ball's sticking in one person's hand."
The No. 28 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft was billed as a forward who can help as a playmaker and, if his long-range shot develops, add another layer to Brooklyn’s offense. He wasn’t able to practice with the Nets in an official capacity until the trade that brought Minnesota forward Julius Randle to Brooklyn was finalized on Friday, but he still made a point of being aggressive on offense once he got on the floor.
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 NBA season, Jefferson is expected to come off the bench at forward with Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle in the starting lineup on opening night. Still, his summer league debut offered a first look at a player trying to carve out minutes quickly now that he’s officially cleared to play with the roster.
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