Joshua Jefferson kickstarted his rookie career with the Long Island Nets in the G League, scoring 15 points against the Greensboro Swarm on Friday.
Jefferson shot 5-for-9 from the field (3-for-7 from three), grabbed six rebounds and dished three assists in Long Island's 121-111 loss. It's a promising start for the Brooklyn Nets' first-round pick.
Shooting 42.8% from downtown is encouraging for the 6-foot-8 forward and Brooklyn. He shot 34.5% from three in his senior season for the Iowa State Cyclones, just below league average.
The 22-year-old will get the playing time and experience needed to develop in the G League over collecting dust at the end of Brooklyn's bench. Lower back soreness sidelined him in the preseason, and he didn't score in his NBA debut against the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 25.
Brooklyn's forward rotation is crowded. Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. round out the starters; Josh Minott, Noah Clowney, Danny Wolf and Chaney Johnson are battling for backup minutes.
Minott, Clowney, Wolf and Johnson possess more experience and are more polished than Jefferson. He has a steep uphill climb, and spending time with Long Island is the perfect environment for him.
Jeffers...