CHICAGO — Former North Dakota State forward Grant Nelson had six points, three rebounds and two steals Wednesday at Wintrust Arena.
The 6-foot-11 Nelson played 18 minutes for Team Williams, which dropped an 83-80 decision against Team Mueller during a scrimmage at the NBA Draft Combine.
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Nelson, from Devils Lake, North Dakota, played the previous two season for Alabama after starting his college career at NDSU.
Nelson is participating in his second NBA Draft Combine, also competing in the event in 2023 after his final season with the Bison. He opted to transfer to Alabama instead of entering the NBA Draft after his first combine experience.
Nelson had a strong showing in the shuttle run on Tuesday with an unofficial time of 2.58 seconds. That would be a combine record if that time is confirmed. The NBA hadn't verified that time as of early Wednesday evening.
Alabama’s Grant Nelson just blew the field out of the water with his shuttle run.
Notched an unofficial 2.58 second mark, which would be the fastest time in the history of the NBA Draft Combine if it holds.
The previous best time was 2.64 seconds by Malcolm Brogdon in 2016. pic.twitter.com/Qaelur1fiK
— Jon Chepkevich (@JonChep) May 13, 2025
If verified, Nelson's time would better Malcolm Brogdon, who posted a time of 2.64 seconds in 2016.
Nelson played three seasons at NDSU before entering the transfer portal and landing with the Crimson Tide. He helped lead Alabama to the 2024 NCAA Division I Final Four.
This past season, he averaged 11.5 points, 7.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game for Alabama, which lost to No. 1-seeded Duke in the Elite Eight.
More scrimmages are scheduled for Thursday, May 14.
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Nelson measured in at 6-10 barefoot and 229.8 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine with a 7-0 wingspan and an 8-11.5 standing reach.
NBA: Draft Combine
Former North Dakota State and Alabama Crimson Tide forward Grant Nelson (61) participates in the NBA Draft Combine on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
David Banks/IMAGN IMAGES
Eric Peterson
By Eric Peterson
Peterson covers college athletics for The Forum, including Concordia College and Minnesota State Moorhead. He also covers the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks independent baseball team and helps out with North Dakota State football coverage. Peterson has been working at the newspaper since 1996.