​The Brooklyn Nets have built their franchise over the years through a series of strategic moves, with the front office achieving considerable success via the NBA draft. A significant portion of the team’s standout players have joined the Nets either through direct selections in the annual draft or through trades that occurred on draft day. Yet the Nets’ drafting story isn’t limited to superstar acquisitions; a number of notable alumni have been selected by the team each offseason, underscoring that both elite programs and lesser-known schools have contributed meaningful talent to the Nets’ roster over time. An examination of players from various colleges shows that talent has flowed from a range of institutions, from storied programs to smaller schools, all contributing to the Nets’ evolving lineup.
With that in mind, here is a focused look at every player the Nets have drafted out of the University of Southern California. In Piscataway, New Jersey, circa 1980, David Greenwood—wearing No. 34 for the Chicago Bulls and driving on Cliff Robinson, then with the New Jersey Nets—took the court at the Rutgers Athletic Center. Greenwood was selected in the 1979 NBA Draft, taken in the first round as the 11th overall pick. He spent two seasons at USC and went on to play two seasons with the Nets.
In East Rutherford, New Jersey, on June 8, 2003, during the NBA Finals, the Nets hosted a moment of cheer as Brian Scalabrine, Tamar Slay, Dikembe Mutombo, and Anthony Johnson celebrated the Nets’ efforts in Game 3 against the San Antonio Spurs. This era highlighted another USC connection through a subsequent draft, with the Nets selecting in the second round as the 35th overall pick (sixth pick of the round) in the 2001 NBA Draft. That draftee spent three seasons at USC and went on to play four seasons with the Nets. All statistical details and historical context are documented and sourced from Basketball Reference.
This overview preserves the essence of the Nets’ drafting legacy, emphasizing how the organization has drawn talent from USC as part of its broader, longer-running strategy of building a competitive team through the draft. This summary originally appeared on Nets Wire under the article title “Every USC player drafted by the Brooklyn Nets,” designed to enhance search visibility while recounting the franchise’s draft history.