Brooklyn’s season opener brings one rookie back into the mix and leaves another sidelined.
Joshua Jefferson, who missed most of the preseason with back stiffness, is now available for the Nets’ Wednesday game against the Charlotte Hornets. That’s a step forward for the rookie forward, who had also been working back from an ankle injury suffered during his 2025-26 season with the Iowa State Cyclones.
“He just practiced. [It was a] contact practice.
He did a great job, [I'm] happy to see him back. He's had a buildup, and today, he played with the rest of the group,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez said after Monday’s practice.
Fernandez’s update marked a clear change from Friday, when Jefferson was still not fully with the group. Jefferson was seen running sprints after that practice, a sign he was pushing to be ready if his number was called to start the season.
Brooklyn won’t have every rookie available, though. Second-round pick Tyler Bilodeau is out with a sprained right shoulder.
The Nets selected the UCLA forward with the No. 43 pick and then signed him to a Two-Way deal. He didn’t log much preseason run, but he did average 5.0 points and 4.0 rebounds per game while shooting 60.0% from the field.
Beyond Bilodeau’s absence, Brooklyn appears set for Wednesday, with Jefferson included among the available players. The Hornets, meanwhile, won’t be fully healthy either. With Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle expected to lead the Nets, the hope is that Jefferson can get on the floor after spending most of the preseason out of action.
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