Nets: Jalen Wilson’s emotional reaction to signing three-year deal

Wilson fell in the draft due to concerns about his athleticism and three-point shooting. However, he’s made wholesale improvements as a floor-spacer in his first season as a pro. After shooting 31.6 percent from three in college, Wilson has shot 43.3 percent on 1.4 attempts per game with Brooklyn and 37.4 percent on 4.1 attempts per game in the G-League.

And as he did at Kansas, the 6-foot-6 forward has found numerous ways to impact the game as a defender, rebounder, screener, and cutter. He’s also led the Long Island Nets in scoring, averaging 19.0 points per game on 47 percent shooting over 22 G-League appearances.

Kevin Ollie raves on what Jalen Wilson brings to the Nets

“Just stability. A constant professional,” interim head coach Kevin Ollie said when asked what Wilson brings. “Gets in the gym early and leaves late, all those different things that everybody says, but they’re true. Always in the lab, working on his game, perfecting his game, open to coaching. And just a great role model. Yeah, he’s young, but he’s a leader. And we see those qualities in him.”

“We see the leadership in him and he’s just gonna continue to develop because he’s open for learning and he’s eager for learning. We want him to continue to do that. It’s great to have him in our organization on a multi-year deal.”

The Nets opened a spot on the wing when they traded Royce O’Neale to the Phoenix Suns at the deadline. While Wilson didn’t crack Ollie’s initial rotation out of the All-Star break, he’s averaged 21.3 minutes over Brooklyn’s last three games with Cam Thomas and Ben Simmons sidelined.

With the security of a standard contract, the rookie will now attempt to force his way into Brooklyn’s long-term rotation as the team pivots to a new era.

“Just adds more to it,” Wilson said of the new deal. “I feel like once you make a step towards the right direction, it’s then how can I figure out and work ways to make another step? I just wanna keep going up. You don’t ever wanna get complacent with where you are no matter how successful you are. I feel like there’s always another opportunity, another step you can get to.”

“I’ve always just wanted an opportunity, no matter where it was. Whether it was here or Long Island, just getting to play and being able to get better, I feel like that was my main objective. And just being ready for whenever my time would come to be able to play.”