Former Alabama standout Grant Nelson showed up at the NBA 2K26 Summer League sporting a shiner.

Nelson said he got the black left eye during preparations for the 11-day event in Las Vegas with his new team, the Brooklyn Nets.

“At our minicamp, I was cutting, and someone’s elbow just came, clocked me on a cut,” Nelson said. “I didn’t really see much after that.”

In two seasons at Alabama, Nelson averaged 11.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 1.4 blocked shots in 74 games.

Nelson signed with Brooklyn after going unselected in the NBA Draft on June 25-26.

“From the beginning, they had interest,” Nelson said. “I figured out I would go undrafted, and then I just saw that this would be the best opportunity. They believe in me. They believe in my development, so I felt like it was a good step for me to come here and learn a lot. And I feel like it’s been going pretty good so far.”

Nelson joined the Nets even though they already had five rookies added during the 2025 NBA Draft – BYU guard Egor Demin at No. 8, French guard Nolan Traore at No. 19, Israeli guard Ben Saraf at No. 26, Michigan forward Danny Wolf at No. 27 and Arkansas forward Adou Thiero at No. 36.

The 6-foot-11 Nelson said he’s hoping to land Brooklyn’s remaining two-way contract for the 2025-26 season. A two-way contract allows the Nets to move a player between the NBA roster and their NBA Gatorade League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, without the need to expose him to waivers.

Brooklyn traded with the Denver Nuggets earlier this month and got a starting power forward in Michael Porter Jr. Former Alabama standout Noah Clowney is on that depth-chart line, too, along with Wolf.

RELATED: NOAH CLOWNEY PUTTING INJURY-FILLED NBA SEASON BEHIND HIM

At center, Nic Claxton is back for a fourth season in the spot for the Nets. Reserve Day’Ron Sharpe returns, with Wolf and former Gonzaga star Drew Timme in the reserve mix, too.

“I try not to think too far ahead,” Nelson said. “For right now, I’m really trying to lock in on the roles I’m told to do. Like I said, rebounding the ball, guarding one through five. …

“But I mean, it’s impossible not to think of what I can become and what I’m trying to be as a player. But I’m really just looking to get on the court right now and do things to get that two-way. I think it’s me focusing on right now what I can do to help this team win.”

Brooklyn’s summer-league team will complete its schedule against the Philadelphia 76ers at 5 p.m. CDT Friday at Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.

In the Nets’ first four games in Las Vegas, Nelson has averaged 4.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.8 assists in 17.9 minutes per game.

“They said my role going into the game was have my motor that I’ve played with my whole life,” Nelson said after his first summer-league appearance last week, “and then just do things to help the team win, whether it’s crashing the glass or getting stops defensively. I think really just stepping into that, doing what the coaches ask of me and then just going out there trying to do whatever I can to help the team win. I think that’s what’s going to be the best for not only this team, but for myself.”

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