Alabama Basketball's Nate Oats Reacts to Grant Nelson's NBA Opportunity

Former Crimson Tide big man signs 10-day contract with Brooklyn Nets

Feb. 27, 2026 at 6:49pm

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Former Alabama basketball player Grant Nelson has signed a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets, following a successful start to his G League career with the Long Island Nets. Alabama head coach Nate Oats expressed his happiness for Nelson, praising his size, athleticism, toughness, and skill, and hoping he can stay healthy and improve his jump shot to earn a permanent NBA roster spot.

Why it matters

Nelson's NBA opportunity is a testament to the talent development program at Alabama under Oats, who has helped guide the Crimson Tide to the Elite Eight and Final Four in recent seasons. His success also highlights the pathway for undrafted players to reach the NBA through strong G League performance.

The details

After going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, the 6-foot-11 forward Nelson signed with the Brooklyn Nets with the expectation of competing for a two-way contract. He has been productive in the G League, averaging 11 points and 6 rebounds per game while shooting over 55% from the field for the Long Island Nets.

  • On Friday, Feb. 27, 2026, Nelson was signed to a 10-day contract by the Brooklyn Nets.
  • Oats recently saw Nelson when Alabama played Arkansas in a double-overtime game.

The players

Grant Nelson

A 6-foot-11 forward who played for the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team and is now signed to a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets.

Nate Oats

The head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide basketball team, who praised Nelson's size, athleticism, toughness, and skill, and hopes he can earn a permanent NBA roster spot.

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What they’re saying

“I was super happy to hear it. He's got great size, he's super athletic, he's tough, he's skilled. Hopefully he can stay healthy and get his jumper down.”

— Nate Oats, Head Coach, Alabama Crimson Tide

What’s next

The next game for the Brooklyn Nets is against the Boston Celtics on Friday, Feb. 27 at 6:30 p.m. CT, where Nelson will have the opportunity to showcase his skills at the NBA level.

The takeaway

Grant Nelson's NBA opportunity with the Brooklyn Nets is a testament to the talent development program at Alabama under Nate Oats, and highlights the pathway for undrafted players to reach the NBA through strong G League performance.