Grant Nelson (basketball)

Last updated

Grant Nelson
Grant Nelson.jpg
Brooklyn Nets
Position Power forward
Personal information
Born (2002-03-18) March 18, 2002 (age 23)
Devils Lake, North Dakota, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 11 in (2.11 m)
Listed weight230 lb (104 kg)
Career information
High school Devils Lake
(Devils Lake, North Dakota)
College
NBA draft 2025: undrafted
Playing career2025–present
Career history
2025–present Brooklyn Nets
Career highlights

Grant Nelson (born March 18, 2002) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for the Alabama Crimson Tide and the North Dakota State Bison.

Contents

Early life and high school career

Nelson grew up in Devils Lake, North Dakota and attended Devils Lake High School. [1] He played mostly on the junior varsity team as a freshman and sophomore. [2] Nelson averaged 16.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 5.1 blocks per game and was named second team All-State during his junior season. [3] He was named North Dakota Mr. Basketball as a senior after averaging 25 points, 18 rebounds, and 5.7 blocks per game. [4] Nelson committed to playing college basketball for North Dakota State over offers from North Dakota and Division II programs Northern State, University of Mary, Minot State, and Minnesota State-Moorhead. [5]

College career

Nelson played in all 27 of NDSU's games, with five starts as a freshman and was named the Summit League Sixth Man of the Year after averaging 6.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. [6] He became a starter as a sophomore and averaged 11.6 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. [7] [8] During Nelson's junior season, a highlight reel of his play went viral in early January 2023. [9] As a junior, Grant averaged 17.9 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, as well as shooting 52.1% from the field. [10] These stats also earned him his first All-Summit First Team and All-Summit Defensive Team honors. [11]

Following the 2022–23 season, Nelson explored his options in the 2023 NBA draft but ultimately withdrew to return to college for his senior season. On June 12, 2023, he transferred to Alabama after spending three seasons at North Dakota State. [12] Nelson averaged 11.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. He announced he was returning for his final season at Alabama. [13]

Professional career

Brooklyn Nets (2025-present)

After going undrafted in the 2025 NBA Draft, Nelson signed an Exhibit 10 contract with the Brooklyn Nets to compete for a two-way contract. During the 2025 NBA Summer League, Nelson appeared in all five games and averaged 6.0 points, 4.4 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 19.1 minutes per game. [14] [15]

On October 15, 2025, the Nets officially announced that they signed Nelson. [16]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames played  GS Games started MPG Minutes per game
 FG%  Field goal percentage 3P%  3-point field goal percentage FT%  Free throw percentage
 RPG  Rebounds per game APG  Assists per game SPG  Steals per game
 BPG  Blocks per game PPG Points per game Bold Career high

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2020–21 North Dakota State 27520.9.471.356.7113.7.6.2.96.3
2021–22 North Dakota State 292125.8.508.322.7334.91.1.21.311.6
2022–23 North Dakota State 303030.7.521.269.7209.32.1.81.717.9
Career865626.0.508.307.7226.01.3.41.312.1

References

  1. ↑ Davis, Seth (February 22, 2023). "The Unicorn Era: Victor Wembanyama heads a coming stampede of skilled big men". The Athletic . Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ Zastrow, Nate (June 20, 2019). "Bison Hoops Offers Two Big Men". 247Sports . Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Devils Lake's Grant Nelson standing out above the basketball crowd". Grand Forks Herald . December 24, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Devils Lake's Nelson named North Dakota Mr. Basketball". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead . March 27, 2020. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Devils Lake's Grant Nelson to play college basketball at NDSU". Grand Forks Herald . July 8, 2019. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  6. ↑ "With Grant Nelson, Bison men have a unique player to throw at opposing teams". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead . October 31, 2021. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Bison men's basketball players Cook, Harden-Hayes enter the transfer portal". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead . March 14, 2022. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  8. ↑ "NBA Draft Scouting Report: North Dakota State's Grant Nelson". SI.com . February 25, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  9. ↑ "McFeely: Thanks in part to viral video, NBA steam begins for Bison's Grant Nelson". The Forum of Fargo-Moorhead . January 13, 2023. Retrieved February 28, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Grant Nelson Stats, News, Bio". espn.com. ESPN. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  11. ↑ "ORU's Abmas nets second #SummitMBB Player of the Year Award". thesummitleague.org. The Summit League. March 2, 2023. Retrieved March 3, 2023.
  12. ↑ "North Dakota State transfer Grant Nelson commits to Alabama: What Tide are getting in big man". theathletic.com. The Athletic. June 12, 2023. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  13. ↑ Byler, Blake (April 29, 2024). "Grant Nelson Returning to Alabama Basketball for Final Season". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Brooklyn Nets Announce 2025 Summer League Roster | Brooklyn Nets". brooklynnets.com. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Brooklyn Nets Sign Grant Nelson | Brooklyn Nets". brooklynnets.com. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
  16. ↑ "Brooklyn Nets Sign Grant Nelson | Brooklyn Nets". brooklynnets.com. Retrieved October 15, 2025.
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