Brooklyn Nets rookie forward Joshua Jefferson had a unique start to his NBA career as he had to wait longer than most players due to the trade that brought him to the Nets. Brooklyn acquired the 2026 NBA Draft pick that became Jefferson in the trade that also brought Julius Randle to the team, but the former Iowa State Cyclone understands what separates him from everyone else in his class.
"I think my vocalness on the defense side of the ball, I think I felt like the loudest person in the gym. I think I was shooting the ball well," Jefferson said when asked by general manager Sean Marks what separates him from his peers. The Nets selected Jefferson with the No. 28 overall pick in the 2026 draft likely because of how he approaches the game and
what he is capable of doing at this stage in his career.
"I was playmaking, I was rebounding, I was defending. I don't think there's a lot of players in this draft that are capable of doing all of those things at a high level. That's what I think I'm really good at doing," Jefferson continued. "Then just that professional, mature approach to the game. There's not going to be any nonsense with me. I'm just going to come in, get my work done, put in extra work, and then be a good person to be around."
Jefferson, 22, had to wait until July 11 to play with the Nets in the Las Vegas Summer League because of how long it took for the Randle trade to be finalized, meaning Jefferson had to miss the entire California Classic. Once Jefferson stepped on the floor, he showed why the team drafted him where they did while also making it clear that he still had work to do before his rookie season officially began.
Jefferson averaged 7.3 points, 1.7 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 2.0 steals per game while shooting 33.3% from the field and 12.5% from behind the three-point line in his three games played in the summer circuit. What will be key for Jefferson when Brooklyn's regular season begins is showing his ability to be versatile on both ends of the floor, especially with what he knew about himself before he was even drafted by one of the youngest teams in the NBA.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets' Joshua Jefferson explains what separates him from draft class
