Nets’ first-rounder believes Brooklyn is where he ‘needs to be’

Julius Randle and Mikel Brown Jr. have gotten all the Nets attention this week. But they traded for a first-round pick with an eye on Joshua Jefferson and landed the skilled forward who says Brooklyn is exactly where he’s supposed to be.

“It was really good feedback, from the late first round, from all the front office, just seeing what they need for their team,” Jefferson said. “They felt that I fit in a lot of spots because of my versatility. I’m where I need to be. The Nets took a great chance on me, and I’m very thankful for that.”

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To some, the Nets took a gamble on Jefferson, an older prospect with presumably limited upside, coming off a left ankle sprain that cut short his NCAA Tournament and Iowa State’s title hopes.

“When that injury happened, I feel like a lot of things [were] jeopardized from that. Going into pre-draft, I was like, make the most out of your workouts and attack your rehab hard and everything will go how it needs to go,” Jefferson said. “Very blessed for this position that I’m in and just very thankful.”

Joshua Jefferson is interviewed during the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23. NBAE via Getty Images

Jefferson is a 22-year-old rookie with a chance to garner real frontcourt minutes behind Randle and Michael Porter Jr. Despite holdovers Noah Clowney and Danny Wolf, Jefferson could boost Brooklyn’s bench.

After averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and an impressive 4.8 assists — albeit just 34.5 percent from 3-point range — Jefferson will bring passing and physicality that could earn him early playing time.

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When Nets GM Sean Markstraded for Randle on Monday and brought in the 28th pick along with him, it was with an eye toward targeting Jefferson.

“It absolutely was,” Marks said. “Josh was a guy that we have absolutely been all over all year long and watched how he played the game, his skill set. That definitely translates.

“High IQ, and when you watch him play — when Iowa State plays through him, his teammates feed off of him — he’s definitely a facilitator out there. The toughness that he has. So there were a lot of intangibles. And then he’s a winner, an absolute…

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Publish date : 2026-06-26 01:24:00

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