Jalen Wilson ‘confident’ as battle for final Nets roster spot nears end

No one appeared in more games for the Nets last season than Jalen Wilson, whose 79 appearances tied since-released Keon Johnson for the team lead.

Wilson also could be facing a roster crunch before the regular season commences next week, as the Nets look to integrate a record five first-round draft picks into a rebuilding roster for 2025-26.

After waiving Drew Timme and former first-round pick Dariq Whitehead earlier this week, the Nets have one of their 15 standard roster spots left to fill ahead of the season opener Oct. 22 against the Hornets in Charlotte, N.C.

Wilson and fellow wing Tyrese Martin — both entering their third NBA seasons — have non-guaranteed contracts, and they are likely in competition for that final spot.

“I’m always confident. And I know that I’m always prepared,” Wilson said Tuesday at an event at PS 335 in Crown Heights. “Had some good games in preseason, we went out and won a game in China, so I’m always confident in myself and what I’m able to do.”

After returning home from China on Monday, the Nets will play their final preseason game Friday in Toronto before rosters — 15 standard contracts and three two-way players — have to be finalized on Monday of next week.

The 24-year-old Wilson’s guaranteed money (currently $88,000) will rise to around $382,000 if he is on the opening night roster, according to Spotrac, and $2.22 million salary for the year must be fully guaranteed by Jan. 10.

Martin’s deal contains no partial guarantees on his $2.19 million salary for 2025-26, which also must be fully guaranteed by the same date.

Jalen Wilson (above) and fellow wing Tyrese Martin — both entering their third NBA seasons — have non-guaranteed contracts, and they are likely in competition for the Nets’ final roster spot. Getty Images

The 6-foot-6 Wilson, the team’s second-round pick out of Kansas in 2023, averaged 9.5 points and shot 33.7 percent from 3-point range last season, with 22 of his 79 appearances coming as part of the starting lineup.

“I think availability is very big in the NBA, being healthy and taking care of your body,” Wilson said. “Shoutout to our [performance] team, they get us right with treatment every single day, preparing us to be able to play … and I was very fortunate to be available and able to play.”

Wilson added that his expectations for his third NBA campaign are “just to get better and to improve every single year” and “to be the best defender, the best teammate and the best shooter that I can be.”

Jalen Wilson speaks to media outside of a community event at P.S. 335 Granville T. Woods School in Brooklyn on Oct. 14, 2025. Heather Khalifa for New York Post

He also hopes to “continue to be a sponge” and soak up everything from his teammates and to be that sort of resource for the assemblage of rookies, who he believes have “looked phenomenal” in camp.

“I can’t give myself the vet card, but I am some years older than them and I’ve played [in the NBA],” Wilson said. “My rookie year I was soaking up from [teammate] Day’Ron [Sharpe], and guys who only had been there two or three years at that time.

“Now it’s my third year and I just want to be a guy they can depend on for help. And I can learn something from them, too.”

Whether that third year comes with the Nets is not a lock, but Wilson has bought into the team’s rebuilding plan under second-year coach Jordi Fernández following last season’s 26-56 finish.

“I think we try to prioritize us getting better and winning, getting one percent better every single day,” Wilson said. “People like to make their own statements, but I think in-house, what Jordi has [preached] every single day throughout the entire summer, just getting better every single day, that’s really the only mindset we have.”

Wilson, who grew up in Texas, added that Tuesday’s event at PS 335 “means a lot” to him. He and Adidas surprised all students at the elementary school with new sneakers, book bags and other school supplies before hosting a basketball clinic for fourth and fifth graders in conjunction with the Brooklyn Basketball youth program.

The Nets signed guard Malachi Smith, likely for G-League Long Island, and requested waivers on Terry Roberts and Trevon Scott.