CHICAGO — The Brooklyn Nets will get most of their attention this offseason from who they select with the No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft that will take place in June. However, Brooklyn also had two second-round picks to use in the same draft and one of the players that could be available feels confident in his versatile game translating to the next level.
“I think it’ll be translatable, knowing the volume is probably going to be lower, but still being able to work in the time slot that I get given. Working in short close-outs or short rolls, so being effective in my play-making as well,” Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson said to Nets Wire during the NBA Draft Combine last week. Jefferson is expected to be a second-round pick in the upcoming draft and his multi-layered skillset is the main reason why.
“Definitely [could see him thriving with a team like the Nets]. I mean, I love the organizations that’s going to let their forwards kind of operate and use their skillsets,” Jefferson said when asked if he could fit in a system like head coach Jordi Fernandez’s that lets the bigs make decisions with the ball in their hands. “Just seeing that pass-dribble-shoot forwards are becoming more valuable is something that I always want to be a part of.”
Jefferson is coming off the best season of his collegiate career as he averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, 4.8 assists, and 1.6 steals per game while shooting 47.1% from the field and 34.5% from three-point land for the Cyclones. Jefferson, who’s officially listed at 6-foot-7 and 246 pounds, could potentially see some minutes as a small-ball power forward or could profile as a big-wing type if he’s able to improve his shooting.
“There will be NBA teams that would rather target youth and upside, but Jefferson has turned himself into a popular name with so much versatility and adaptability,” Jonathan Wasserman wrote of Jefferson in his latest mock draft for Bleacher Report. With the way that the Nets have leaned into players like Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe being able to do multiple actions on the floor, Jefferson could fit right into that style of play.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Potential Nets 2026 NBA Draft pick Joshua Jefferson talks versatility
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
