Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) looks on during the second half against the SMU Mustangs at Moody Coliseum.
Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Fresh off two tanking seasons, the Brooklyn Nets are hoping Mikel Brown Jr. can help turn their fortunes in the coming years. Cleveland Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell feels the Nets made a smart bet with the No. 6 pick in June's draft.
During an appearance on the Cousins Podcast with Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady, Mitchell raved about Brown's basketball IQ and compared the Nets guard to his co-star, James Harden.
“What I love about Mikel is there aren’t many high school kids that pay attention to the details. I'm having conversations with him like I'm talking to James Harden,” Mitchell said. “I'm sitting there like, ‘Bro, how old are you?’ He's like, ‘I'm 16, 17.’ I'm like, “What?” He's asking about the low man, he’s asking about strongside help, he's asking about gap help, he's asking about pickups. A lot of kids in high school do it, but they don't know what they're doing. And that's one thing I really respected about him… We had a game in Miami and I flew up to watch him play… And I'm sitting here on the sideline and like he's looking at me to so I can give him things in game. Like that's something that I would do like when Dwayne Wade was sitting courtside in Utah. So it was crazy like to be able to be able to do that for him.”
The Nets met with Brown three times during the pre-draft process, including an in-home visit with his family in Orlando. League sources told ClutchPoints the Louisville guard impressed Brooklyn's brass with his maturity and understanding of the game.
Donovan Mitchell praises Mikel Brown Jr. ahead of rookie season with Nets
Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) drives to the basket as the Louisville Cardinals host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in an NCAA basketball game at the KFC Yum! Center, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Louisville.
Louisville Cardinals guard Mikel Brown Jr. (0) drives to the basket as the Louisville Cardinals host the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in an NCAA basketball game at the KFC Yum! Center, Saturday, Feb. 21, 2026, in Louisville.
Mitchell, another former Louisville guard, first met Brown when the now-Nets draftee attended his camp in 2024. They've developed a close relationship since, and Mitchell said Brown's work ethic has remained consistent since their first conversations.
“Even when [Mikel] got to Louisville and he obviously got paid a lot of money, the process mentally, the phone calls, it never changed. It always was like I want to be the best I can possibly be,” Mitchell said. “And then obviously, phenomenal kid, phenomenal family, phenomenal people. But that's where I think our relationship grew. We had a game in Miami, and I flew up to watch him play… And I'm sitting here on the sideline, and like he's looking at me so I can give him things in-game. That's something that I would do when Dwyane Wade was sitting courtside in Utah. So it was crazy to be able to do that for him… He’s going to do amazing things in Brooklyn, and Nets fans should be really, really, really excited because they got one in him.”
Brown will likely open the season as the Nets' starting point guard alongside fellow top-10 pick Egor Demin. Barring further offseason moves, Brooklyn's starting lineup will also feature Michael Porter Jr., Julius Randle and Day'Ron Sharpe.
The Nets are looking to take a step back towards relevance following two tanking seasons. Despite Brooklyn acquiring Julius Randle and not owning its 2027 first-round pick, the team's over/under win total is set at just 24.5, per FanDuel Sportsbook. Brown's ability to produce offensively in a key role will be critical if his team hopes to exceed expectations.