Nets' Joshua Jefferson wasn't invited to the green room, but he was an NBA Draft winner by going anyway

Nets' Joshua Jefferson wasn't invited to the green room, but he was an NBA Draft winner by going anyway originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

>The NBA didn't invite Iowa State's Joshua Jefferson to the green room for the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft on Tuesday night.

>Jefferson was in the building anyway.

>He bet on himself and sat in the audience, and it paid off.

>The Brooklyn Nets are getting Jefferson with the No. 28 overall pick in the draft.

>Technically, it was a Timberwolves selection, but it's going to the Nets in the Julius Randle trade.

>Jefferson was wearing a suit of Iowa State maroon, and he stood up, walked down the stairs and got his moment with Adam Silver:

Joshua Jefferson was in the stands with his family when he was drafted 🥹

He's heading to Brooklyn in a reported deal with Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/KcOiWk2qgv

— ESPN (@espn) June 24, 2026MORE: Giannis legacy with the Bucks remains intact

>Jefferson had multiple triple-doubles at Iowa State.

>He's got the classic "old man game," not above the rim but simply a playmaker on the ground at 6-foot-10 with serious strength.

>He doesn't fit the modern NBA perfectly, but he's a smart basketball player.

>He was also smart enough to be there on Tuesday for the start of his NBA career. Jefferson earned that on-stage photo, and now he'll have to prove he belongs in the league.

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