Alabama’s Noah Clowney made his first trip to New York for the NBA Draft. And he gets to stay.

Clowney worked out for the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, then remained in the city for Thursday night’s selections, held at the Barclays Center, the Nets’ home arena – and now Clowney’s after Brooklyn chose the former Crimson Tide standout at No. 21 in the 77th NBA Draft.

“I’m excited,” Clowney said during a press conference after being selected. “The way I always explained it is whoever picked me, that’s who really wanted me. And I wanted to be somewhere I’m wanted, so to be picked here in New York, and this is my first time ever being in New York, it’s exciting. It’s very exciting.”

Clowney said after working out for the Nets, he thought Brooklyn would choose him if it had the opportunity.

“I had a few teams in my head that I knew might want me,” Clowney said. “And then I knew after my workout that I was pretty solidified that if I made it there, to that pick, they were going to get me. …

“To be in the building when I get drafted to them was surreal.”

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Clowney joins the Nets as they turn the page after their Superstar Era failed to yield the expected results. Brooklyn had a 45-37 record in the 2022-23 regular season to make its fifth straight playoff trip. But the Nets lost in the first round for the fourth time in those five years.

Ten-time All-Star James Harden forced his way out of Brooklyn during the 2021-22 season, the Nets fired Hall of Fame player Steve Nash as their coach seven games into last season and, during 2023, Brooklyn met the requests of eight-time All-Star Kyrie Irving and 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant to be traded.

The centerpiece of the Nets’ new direction is swingman Mikal Bridges, obtained in the Durant trade. After averaging 17.2 points in 56 games for the Phoenix Suns last season, Bridges scored at a 26.1-points-per-game clip in 27 games with Brooklyn.

The Nets also got forward Cameron Johnson in the Durant trade, and he bumped his scoring average to 16.6 after joining Brooklyn.

The Nets are set at point guard with Spencer Dinwiddie, who averaged 9.1 assists per game in the 2022-23 campaign.

At 6-foot-10, Clowney is expected to help Brooklyn at power forward and center. At center, Nic Claxton averaged 12.6 points, 9.2 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game last season. Dorian Finney-Smith appears to have a leg up at power forward after averaging 7.2 points and 4.9 rebounds in 26 games after coming over from the Dallas Mavericks last season.

Clowney said he would be looking to find his place to make the best impact for the Nets.

“I like to think we play a very modern style at Bama, probably the most translatable to the league,” Clowney said. “And obviously, (Alabama coach Nate) Oats, he always told me: Not everybody’s going to be a star, some people are going to be role players. You got to find your role and be the best at your role, and those are the players that play the longest, so I think finding my role on my new team and then perfecting it will be the key to my success early.”

Clowney started all 36 games during his only season at Alabama. He averaged 9.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game as the Crimson Tide won the SEC regular-season and tournament crowns, earned the No. 1 seed for the NCAA tournament and won two games in the Big Dance before losing to eventual national finalist San Diego State.

“Offensively, I think I can bring a lot – spacing the floor, decision-making, like a bunch of different things offensively,” Clowney said. “Defensively is where I hang my hat. Guard multiple positions, we protect the rim, we do it all. And then from a mental standpoint, I do whatever I’m asked, so I’m a good teammate.”

Clowney’s first work for the Nets could come in the NBA 2K24 Summer League, which will be held in Las Vegas from July 7-17.

“Development is the biggest piece to all this, if you ask me,” Clowney said.

Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on Twitter at @AMarkG1.