The Nets converted Jalen Wilson’s two-way deal into a three-year contract on Friday. While the full terms of the agreement were not released, the rookie forward confirmed in a social media post that he inked a three-year deal with Brookyn.
“Emotions were kind of all over the place,” Wilson said. “This is something I’ve been working really hard for… It means a lot. This is the birthplace of my professional career, so it’s pretty cool to see how valuable people feel I am. Just a blessing to be here.”
Wilson, a 6-6 rookie out of Kansas, signed his initial two-way deal in July and made his NBA debut in a road game against the Miami Heat on Nov. 1. His first career start came on Feb. 8 against the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Entering Saturday’s game against the Atlanta Hawks, the 23-year-old was averaging 5.0 points, 2.4 rebounds and 1.1 assists per game across his first 21 appearances with the big club this season while shooting 46.8% from the field, 43.3% from 3-point range and 90.5% from the free throw line.
Wilson also averaged 19 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists in 11 starts for the Nets’ G League affiliate on Long Island. He had appeared in each of the first five games coached by Kevin Ollie since the All-Star break, averaging 12 minutes a night.
Ollie believed Wilson’s contract conversion was well deserved.
“Just a constant professional,” Ollie said. “Get in the gym early, leave late, all those different things that everybody says, but they’re true. Always in the lab, working on his game, perfecting his game, open to coaching. And just a great role model. Yeah, he’s young, but he’s a leader. And we see those qualities in him, we see the leadership in him and he’s just going to continue to develop because he’s open for learning and he’s eager for learning. We want him to continue to do that. It’s great to have him in our organization on a multi-year deal.”
GILYARD SIGNS TWO-WAY DEAL
Wilson’s conversion opened up a two-way spot for the Nets, which they used on former Memphis Grizzlies guard Jacob Gilyard. The deadline for NBA teams to sign two-way players is March 4.
Gilyard is the shortest player in the league at 5-9. He set the NCAA record for career steals in five seasons at Richmond. The 25-year-old, in his second NBA season, made 37 appearances for Memphis this season with 14 starts, averaging 4.7 points, 1.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He also made five starts for the G League Memphis hustle.
Brooklyn’s roster now stands at 18 players, including three two-way players in Gilyard, Jaylen Martin and Keon Johnson.
BEN, CAM REMAIN OUT
Ben Simmons (leg soreness) and Cam Thomas (ankle sprain) missed their third consecutive games against Atlanta on Saturday. They remain day-to-day with their respective injuries and the timeline for their return to action is unclear.
“I just know they’re getting back healthy,” Ollie said. “Slowly but surely, they’re getting back on the court, so they’re just still day-to-day. We trust in our medical staff with all our faith that they’re doing the right things off the court to get better and doing their rehab. I know they’re constantly doing their rehab, trying to get better so they can be contributing to this team’s success going forward, so it’s just day-to-day now, but hopefully we’ll see them soon.”
