Every Creighton Player Drafted by the Brooklyn Nets: A Legacy of Blue Jays in Black and White

The Brooklyn Nets, in their various incarnations from the ABA days in New Jersey to the modern NBA powerhouse in Brooklyn, have always been a franchise that values scouting. While the team has often made headlines for blockbuster trades, the NBA Draft has quietly been the backbone of their roster construction. From selecting Hall of Famers to finding hidden gems in the later rounds, the Nets’ draft history is a tapestry of calculated risks and keen evaluations.

When you look at the colleges that have fed talent to the Nets, you see a mix of blue-blood programs and mid-major powerhouses. One school that has a unique, albeit brief, connection to the franchise is Creighton University. The Bluejays, known for their high-octane offense and development of NBA-ready guards and forwards, have seen a handful of their alumni hear their names called by the Nets. While the list is short, it tells a compelling story of scouting philosophy, roster fit, and the unpredictable nature of the draft.

In this analysis, we will break down every Creighton player drafted by the Brooklyn Nets, examining their college production, why the Nets took a chance on them, and what their professional legacy looks like. We will also explore what this history means for future Bluejays entering the league.

The Lone Blue Jay: Kyle Korver’s Draft Night Connection

To understand the Creighton-Nets draft history, we must start with the most notable name: Kyle Korver. While Korver is famously known for his legendary career with the Utah Jazz, Chicago Bulls, and Atlanta Hawks, his professional journey began when the New Jersey Nets selected him in the second round (22nd pick, 51st overall) of the 2003 NBA Draft.

Korver’s selection was a classic late-round gamble on a specialist. At Creighton, he was a three-time Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year and finished his career as the school’s all-time leading scorer. His shooting mechanics were flawless, and his basketball IQ was off the charts. However, in an era dominated by physical play and isolation scoring, a 6’7″ shooter with average athleticism was considered a project.

The Nets, coming off back-to-back NBA Finals appearances in 2002 and 2003, were in “win-now” mode. They needed depth, but roster spots were precious. After drafting Korver, the Nets immediately traded his draft rights to the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal involving cash considerations. This is the critical detail: Kyle Korver never played a single game for the Nets.

• Draft Year: 2003
• Position: 51st overall (Second Round)
• Seasons with Nets: 0 (Traded on draft night)
• Outcome: Became an NBA All-Star, one of the greatest three-point shooters in history.

Expert Analysis: This trade is a fascinating “what if” for Nets fans. The front office at the time, led by Rod Thorn, prioritized veteran experience over raw development. They needed a backup point guard, which they addressed by trading for Mikki Moore in a separate deal. While Korver went on to shoot over 40% from three for 14 seasons and become a four-time All-Star, the Nets were already loaded with perimeter scorers like Jason Kidd, Kerry Kittles, and Richard Jefferson. The trade made financial sense, but it remains a classic case of a team letting a generational shooter slip through their fingers due to roster congestion.

The Only Creighton Player to Wear the Nets Uniform: A Brief Stint

For decades, the Korver trade left a void. No other Creighton player was selected by the Nets until the franchise moved to Brooklyn and rebranded. That changed in the modern era, albeit with a player who had a very different career trajectory than Korver.

In the 2018 NBA Draft, the Brooklyn Nets selected Khyri Thomas from Creighton with the 38th overall pick (second round). Thomas was a defensive dynamo at Creighton, winning Big East Defensive Player of the Year twice. He was a tenacious on-ball defender, with quick hands and a strong frame. His offensive game was raw, but his defensive potential was undeniable.

Unlike Korver, Thomas actually signed with the Nets and played for the organization. He appeared in 15 games during the 2018-2019 season, averaging 1.7 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 0.3 assists in limited minutes. He was primarily used in garbage time and with the Long Island Nets, Brooklyn’s G League affiliate.

• Draft Year: 2018
• Position: 38th overall (Second Round)
• Seasons with Nets: 1 (2018-2019)
• Outcome: Traded to the Detroit Pistons in a salary dump move.

Expert Analysis: Thomas’s time in Brooklyn was a victim of the franchise’s rapid transformation. When he was drafted, the Nets were in the early stages of a rebuild under Sean Marks. By the 2019 offseason, the team had signed Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, instantly becoming a championship contender. Thomas, a defensive specialist with a broken jump shot, no longer fit the timeline. He was traded to Detroit in a deal that cleared cap space. While Thomas never found a consistent NBA home, his selection shows the Nets’ scouting department values two-way potential from mid-major programs. They saw a player who could guard 1-through-3, a skill set that is highly coveted in today’s switch-heavy defensive schemes.

Why Creighton Players Fit the Nets’ Modern Blueprint

Looking at the two Creighton players drafted by the Nets—Korver and Thomas—a pattern emerges. Both players excelled in specific, translatable NBA skills. Creighton’s system under coaches like Greg McDermott emphasizes spacing, ball movement, and high-IQ decision-making. This aligns perfectly with the modern NBA, and specifically with the Brooklyn Nets’ offensive philosophy under Sean Marks and Steve Nash (and now Jacque Vaughn).

Key Traits of Creighton Players Attractive to the Nets:

• Shooting Efficiency: Creighton consistently ranks in the top 10 nationally in three-point percentage. This is a non-negotiable skill for the Nets, who run a spread pick-and-roll offense.
• Positional Versatility: Players like Korver (a 3/4 tweener) and Thomas (a combo guard with defensive versatility) fit the Nets’ desire for players who can guard multiple positions.
• High Character and Work Ethic: Both Korver and Thomas were known as tireless workers in college. The Nets front office, under Marks, has prioritized culture and buy-in over raw talent.

Prediction for Future Creighton Players: The next Bluejay who could land in Brooklyn is Ryan Kalkbrenner. The 7’1″ center is a dominant rim protector and a developing offensive player. While the Nets currently have Nic Claxton as their anchor, Kalkbrenner’s ability to stretch the floor (he is working on a mid-range game) and protect the rim makes him a perfect second-round target. If the Nets continue to prioritize defensive bigs who can switch, Kalkbrenner is a natural fit. Another name to watch is Baylor Scheierman, a do-it-all wing who could provide instant offense off the bench. His passing and rebounding from the wing would be a luxury for a Nets team that often needs secondary playmaking.

The Legacy: What This History Tells Us About the Nets’ Draft Strategy

The history of Creighton players drafted by the Brooklyn Nets is a microcosm of the franchise’s overall draft strategy over the last two decades. It is a story of opportunity cost, roster construction, and the difficulty of developing second-round picks.

In 2003, the Nets had a championship window but lacked patience. They traded a future Hall of Famer in Korver for cash, a move that looks foolish in hindsight but was logical at the time. In 2018, they took a flier on a defensive stopper in Thomas, but the arrival of superstars rendered him expendable.

The Lesson: The Nets are not afraid to draft from smaller programs. They trust their analytics and scouting reports. However, they are also ruthless when it comes to roster optimization. A Creighton player drafted by the Nets is likely to be a high-floor prospect with a specific NBA skill, but he must prove his worth immediately or risk being traded for cap flexibility.

Strong Conclusion: The Brooklyn Nets and Creighton University share a bond built on potential rather than production. Only two Bluejays have ever been drafted by the franchise, and only one—Khyri Thomas—actually wore the uniform. Yet, the legacy of Kyle Korver looms large as a cautionary tale of what could have been. As the Nets continue to navigate the complexities of the modern NBA, they would be wise to remember that the next great shooter or versatile defender might just be wearing a Bluejay uniform.

For Creighton fans, the hope is that the next player selected by the Nets—whether it is Kalkbrenner, Scheierman, or an unknown freshman—will finally break the cycle. They need a player who not only gets drafted but becomes a cornerstone. Until then, the list remains short, but the potential for a long-term partnership between Omaha and Brooklyn is still very much alive.

Source: Based on news from Yahoo Sports.