Can This SEC Product Earn A Spot With The Nets?

Another sign of his enthusiasm for playing in Brooklyn came during a Summer League interview with ClutchPoints’ Erik Slater, where Nelson discussed the mutual interest between him and the organization leading up to the draft.

"From the beginning, they had interest. I just saw that this would be the best opportunity.. They believed in me and my development, so I felt like it was a good step for me to come here and learn a lot. It's been going pretty good," Nelson said.

As a senior at Alabama, Nelson averaged 11.5 points and a team-leading 7.6 rebounds while helping the Crimson Tide reach the Elite Eight. Ahead of the season, he was named to the Naismith Trophy and the Karl Malone Award watch lists.

During Alabama’s 2025 NCAA Tournament run, some of Nelson’s top performances came in March Madness, including a 12-point, eight-rebound game against Saint Mary’s and a 6-point, 10-rebound showing against BYU.

During his first season at Alabama, Nelson averaged 11.9 points and a team-leading 5.9 rebounds per game while helping the Crimson Tide reach their first Final Four in program history. In an Elite Eight matchup against Clemson, he helped Alabama advance by scoring 19 points and pulling down 15 rebounds. Earlier in the tournament, he became the first player since Kevin Love to score at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and four-plus blocks during a Sweet 16 win against the University of North Carolina

It’s clear that Nelson is a skilled player with a high motor, but as a 23-year-old rookie (turns 24 during the season), the question is whether he’s a finished product or still has significant room to grow. At the very least, his rangy skill set and college production should be enough to earn him a G League spot.