The Long Island Nets, like the big club, are quickly approaching their 2026-27 season … and the two clubs’ fate are linked. Development is still critical for Brooklyn. The tank may be over, but the rebuild continues.
It’s the sophomore year of the Flatbush 5 as they look to continue their development in the Brooklyn Nets system. Then, there’s the three 2026 picks – Mikel Brown Jr., Joshua Jefferson, and Tyler Bilodeau. Like 2025, it seems that Brown, like Egor Demin last season, will be the only pick who
doesn’t spend time down at Nassau Coliseum. Bilodeau is already signed to a two-way, joining Chaney Johnson and Grant Nelson, both of whom saw G League action last year.
Now, it was time for Long Island to find a diamond in the rough at their local player tryout, which took place Sunday at the the Pratt Recreation Center at LIU Post in Greenvale, Long Island. More than 100 locals were on hand after paying $250 each for the privilege. But the event was also the first time Long Island’s new head coach, Shawn Swords, took questions after succeeding Mfon Udofia who moved on this summer, taking a job as an assistant in Orlando.
Swords opened up about his mindset: “Kind of keep the same case as we had before. There’s a different change as the head coach, but I loved Mfon’s attitude, his energy every day; it spread throughout the whole staff, and it’s spread throughout the whole team. I hope to just kind of keep that same thing going. We’ve done a good job over the years, and I want to keep it going.” Translation: development, development, development.
Swords spoke about the two-ways as well as the other first rounder, Joshua Jefferson, the 6’9” point forward the Nets took at No. 26 after taking Brown Jr. at No. 6. For every G League club the two ways and lower picks are going to be the development core, the players the head coach will rely on throughout the season.
“It’s been great. Obviously, with guys who have been here before, like Grant, we had him last year, so not much has changed there. But getting to know the other guys has been awesome. Joshua Jefferson is a great person. It’s unbelievable,” Swords told ND. “Tyler (Bilodeau,) something for my heart, is that he played hockey, professional hockey player. We actually played some games where we go to play in Montreal, so we talked about that a little bit, and really getting to know the players has been awesome.”
Also on hand to check out the hopefuls and talk about the future was GM Matt MacDonald, a veteran of the organization. He paid tribute to Udofia as well and asserted his confidence in Swords, who the Nets hired out of a college job in northern Ontario, Canada, at Steve Nash’s suggestion.
“He’s been with us for how many years now? He and I started around the same time, and really, it was an easy decision. I don’t want to say there wasn’t thought behind it, but it was the right decision and an easy decision. He’s been here; he knows our system. He’s someone that we’re excited to see lead this organization.”
Both Swords and MacDonald were on hand to check out the 100 hoopers with a personal dream of playing in the NBA had a real chance to achieve that dream at the annual local player tryout. We saw some interesting names there, including the nephew of actor Ice-T, who was also in attendance rooting for his nephew.
“It’s exciting,” Macdonald told ND. “This is kind of the unofficial start of our year. Great to be back. Great to have our new staff around. Just in the gym, being around these guys, and ultimately trying to find some players. It’s the same theme every year. We want to see guys play hard, play the right way; that’s our kind of DNA. The rest, we kind of take it from there.”
When asked about the importance of this event to the franchise, Morgan Taylor who runs business operations for Long Island (as well as the New York Liberty) told ND it’s about building connections to the Long Island community,
“It’s really important for our franchise and for the Brooklyn Nets, as well. It’s important for us to be able to have these tryouts to allow community members and folks who are really looking for their shot at the NBA to come here. We’re fortunate enough to be able to host this at LIU Post this year, which is great to stay close to home. So, it’s a really great part of our community work, also. So, we’re excited to be here today.”
Some of the prospects in attendance were native to Long Island and wanted to represent their hometown, while others made a long drive to chase that elusive dream. It’s not just for show either.
One of the prospective players in attendance, Levittown’s N.Y. Joseph Luginsland told ND that this is his third straight tryout. “I’ve been trying out for the Nets for the past three years. I wasn’t in the best shape of my life. But with a lot of training and a lot of mentality and discipline, I was able to drop my body fat down to 11.9%.”
Many of these Long Island local player tryout prospects have turned into valuable pieces for the organization, and some are even making a name for themselves in the G-League elsewhere.
Take Jordan Minor, for example. He was found at the 2024 local player tryout. He appeared in 42 games for the Long Island squad that season and continued to develop, having a big year for the Mexico City Capitanes last season.
“For sure. There’s definitely a lot of local guys here,” MacDonald said. “It’s important for us to always be in the community. Whether it’s this event or camps/clinics. So, yeah, if we can find someone from home, even better. You know well enough by now that we’re all over. We’re always trying to turn over every stone and find some guys that can play and are about what we’re about. But yeah, finding somebody from Long Island would be better.”
Perhaps the most famous Long Island native who comes to mind is Terry Roberts. Roberts, who participated in the 2023 local player tryout, hails from Amityville, N.Y. He was picked and has been with Long Island ever since, playing in 90 games with Long Island over the past three seasons. He even ranks third in franchise history with 344 assists. His path took him overseas this summer to the Caledonia Gladiators in Scotland.
The biggest success story from the local player tryouts, though, was Craig Randall II made the team after his tryout in 2021. He went on to win the G League’s Most Improved Player award in the same year. So, it’s safe to say that these tryouts work.
Selling the local talent angle can help market the team, added Taylor.
“It’s really important. We’ve had history with finding the local talent, and we’re excited to be able to continue that with the possibility of what one of the local talents can bring to the Brooklyn Nets franchise, with the Long Island Nets. So, we’re excited about that.”
There was also talk about the team’s two trips to Canada, specifically the Montreal suburb of Laval, for the third straight year. They’ll play the Toronto Raptors 905, on January 8-9, then return to Canada for some more fun events and two more games on March 4 and 7.
“Excitement,” said MacDonald describing the trips that have a big success as the Nets try to create a new fan base in French-speaking Canada. “It’s great going up there. Our players enjoy it. Our staff enjoys it. They treat us like home. It’s one of those things that when we travel there, obviously it’s not Nassau Coliseum, but we’re there. It’s really cool to be a part of that community, play in front of those fans, and again, just play in a new atmosphere, but in a lot of ways it feels like home. It’s great to go up there, and like I said, excited for another go at it.”
Swords, a native French speaker whose daughter plays for Team Canada, told ND, “I think it’s great. I think the first year it wasn’t sure how it was going to be perceived in Canada. I kind of knew it would be really good. Montreal is a great basketball history. They love supporting basketball. The next year, it was good again. I’m looking forward to this third year. It’s something consistent; the Montreal fans are coming in and always supporting us very well when we get there.”
The next step for the best of the hopefuls will be the training camp at the end of October. A couple of them will get calls, then it will be up to them. Long Island kicks their season off on the road on Friday, November 6th, against the Greensboro Swarm. Their home opener is one week later, on Friday, November 13th, against the College Park Skyhawks. Both games tip off at 7:00 p.m. EST.
