Who is Tyler Bilodeau? Meet the Nets’ newest draft pick from one of basketball’s most athletic families originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Brooklyn Nets added another intriguing frontcourt prospect in the 2026 NBA Draft by selecting former UCLA standout Tyler Bilodeau. Bilodeau arrives in Brooklyn after steadily improving throughout a four-year college career split between Oregon State and UCLA. By the time he finished with the Bruins, he had developed into one of the Big Ten’s most efficient forwards, averaging 17.6 points while shooting an impressive 51.8% from the field, 46.4% from three-point range and 87.3% from the free-throw line during his senior season.
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But basketball fans are just beginning to learn that Bilodeau comes from one of the most accomplished athletic families in the country.
Tyler Bilodeau grew up in a professional sports family
Professional sports have always been part of Bilodeau’s life.
His father, Brent Bilodeau, was selected 17th overall by the Montreal Canadiens in the 1991 NHL Draft before spending more than a decade playing professional and semi-professional hockey. His mother, Cass Bauer-Bilodeau, enjoyed a successful professional basketball career, playing in both the American Basketball League (ABL) and the WNBA over seven seasons.
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It’s no surprise, then, that Tyler grew up playing multiple sports. As a child, he played both hockey and basketball before ultimately deciding to focus on basketball full time. The influence of both parents helped shape his competitive approach, but his mother has had an especially meaningful impact on his career.
In fact, Bilodeau changed his jersey number from No. 10 to No. 34 during his sophomore season at Oregon State to honor his mother, who wore No. 34 during her college career at Montana State and throughout her professional career.
“My mom is who I look up to,” Bilodeau said during his time at Oregon State. “She’s the reason I play basketball.”
Athletics run throughout the family. Tyler also has a twin brother, Jacob, and a younger sister, Alexa.
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A breakout career at UCLA
Bilodeau entered college as a three-star recruit at Oregon State before blossoming into one of the nation’s top transfer forwards. After averaging 14.3 points and 5.7 rebounds as a sophomore with the Beavers, he transferred to UCLA, where his offensive game reached another level.
He led the Bruins in scoring during both of his seasons in Westwood, earning Third-Team All-Big Ten honors in both 2025 and 2026. His senior campaign was his best yet.
Bilodeau averaged 17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds and shot an outstanding 46.4% from beyond the arc, leading the entire Big Ten in three-point percentage while also finishing among the conference leaders in overall field-goal percentage and free-throw shooting. The 6-foot-9 forward also demonstrated his ability to take over games, scoring a career-high 34 points against UC Riverside while recording three 30-point performances during his final collegiate season.
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What Bilodeau brings to Brooklyn
The Nets are getting one of the draft’s more polished offensive forwards. Bilodeau can stretch the floor, score inside, and has shown steady improvement every season since arriving in college. At 6-foot-9 with a reliable outside shot, he projects as a modern NBA forward capable of fitting alongside multiple frontcourt combinations.
Just as importantly, Brooklyn is adding a player who understands what it takes to reach the professional level. Growing up with a former NHL first-round pick as a father and a former WNBA player as a mother, Bilodeau has been surrounded by elite athletes his entire life. Now he’ll have the opportunity to continue that family tradition as he begins his NBA career with the Nets.
