LAS VEGAS — Brooklyn Nets rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr. came into the 2026 NBA Draft with a penchant for making exciting plays with the ball in his hands. Brooklyn has been trying to replenish the guard depth of the team through the draft and while many fans have plenty of applause for how Brown plays the game, he explains that his approach to the game is pretty simple.
“I really do feel like it just starts at the beginning. Seeing my teammates, getting them open shots as well, seeing the ball go through the hoop obviously gets you going as well,” Brown said to the media following a 91-65 win over the New York Knicks on Friday in the Las Vegas Summer League. Brown finished the contest with 20 points and three assists while shooting 6-of-12 from the field and 3-of-6 from behind the three-point line.
“But like I said before, man, I really know how much work I put in to get to this point and picking my spots,” Brown continued while making the distinction that he’s just playing his game, not looking to be flashy. “The oohs and ahs are coming just because that’s just how I play.”
Brown, 20, will be vying for playing time heading into the 2026-27 season, but the summer league is where the No. 6 overall pick can show what he’s made of. Brown also put forth his production in just 22 minutes of playing, showing that his condition is improving despite dealing with the aftermath of his back injury. The hope is that Brown’s health will continue to improve so that he can continue to get better.
It appears that Brown is one of the guards that the Nets are expecting to be a huge part of the future, along with players like guard Egor Demin and forward Danny Wolf, just to name a couple. Brown has built up the reputation of being a player that can make exciting plays out of nowhere, but he made it clear that his game is all about substance, with some flash thrown in there at times.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets’ Mikel Brown Jr. discusses his approach to the game
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire | USA TODAY Network
