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Iowa State\u2019s Joshua Jefferson (right) poses for a photo with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver after being selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves as the 28th pick in the first round of the NBA Draft on June 23, 2026, in New York. The Timberwolves then traded Jefferson\u2019s rights to the Brooklyn Nets.<\/p>\n
Associated Press<\/p>\n
AMES \u2014 Ninety-five days separated former Iowa State star forward Joshua Jefferson from being \u201cdevastated\u201d to feeling \u201cfortunate.\u201d<\/p>\n
The former unwelcome emotion stemmed from a severe ankle injury suffered in in the NCAA Tournament, which forced him to watch as the Cyclones\u2019 season was cut short in the Sweet 16 by Tennessee.<\/p>\n
The latter emotion enveloped Jefferson late Tuesday night when the Minnesota Timberwolves \u2014 on behalf of the Brooklyn Nets, via a trade \u2014 called his name with the 28th pick of the first round of the NBA Draft.<\/p>\n
So it\u2019s been a whirlwind three-month journey for the versatile 6-8 All-American who chose to be on site for the draft at the Barclay\u2019s Center, which conjured a mixed bag of anxiety and excitement.<\/p>\n
\u201cGoing to the draft was just a non-negotiable for me, because even if got a green room invite or not, I was confident I\u2019d be called in the first round,\u201d Jefferson said Saturday during a Zoom call. \u201cSo it really ended in a great night, (but) that night has a lot of nerves in it because you don\u2019t know where you can end up. There (are) a lot of things that can happen, but I was fortunate to get picked on the first night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jefferson\u2019s accustomed to meeting uncertainty with decisiveness. He couldn\u2019t practice most of the summer when he joined ISU two seasons ago because of a knee injury sustained late in the previous season with St. Mary\u2019s. Then Jefferson broke through as a senior last season, averaging 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists to position himself as a potential first-round pick before the ankle injury struck mere minutes into the Cyclones\u2019 NCAA Tournament run in March.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I made the move (to ISU), that was always the goal, to get to the NBA,\u201d Jefferson said. \u201cIf it happened the first year at Iowa State, prefect, but realistically it will probably take two years. And they just put me in a position to succeed right out of the gate, with body composition and the on-court training. They just did everything right within those two years to help me become an NBA prospect.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jefferson could carve out significant minutes as a rookie if his playmaking ability translates to the next level as expected. But for now he\u2019s limited to individual workouts, as he can\u2019t practice with the Nets until the trade with the Timberwolves is formalized early next month \u2014 mere days before summer league play begins in Jefferson\u2019s hometown of Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
\u201cRight now it\u2019s just staying in shape on my own and then mentally preparing myself for that first game (in the pre-summer league California Classic in Sacramento),\u201d he said. \u201cKind of sucks that I won\u2019t have some of the reps that the guys are getting right now within the system, but I\u2019m trying to get as many mental reps as I can, learning the terminology. So Vegas is just try to go in there and compete and win as many games as we can.\u201d<\/p>\n
Brooklyn will enter the 2026-27 season in rebuilding mode after winning just 20 games last season. Frontcourt stars Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle \u2014 who was acquired in the trade with Minnesota \u2014 give the Nets centerpieces to build around, so Jefferson will look to capably contribute amid a wide-ranging competition for rotational minutes.<\/p>\n
\u201cOverall, they\u2019re really high on me,\u201d said Jefferson, who added that Brooklyn\u2019s front office made it clear they want the ball to still be in his hands frequently at the next level. \u201cThey think I\u2019m a great fit within their team (and) I think that\u2019s why they traded up to pick me. So a lot of gratefulness for them believing in me so much.\u201d<\/p>\n