The Brooklyn Nets made an interesting choice on Tuesday when they chose Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. with the No. 6 overall pick in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft. Some around the NBA have been wondering why Brooklyn chose Brown over Arkansas guard Darius Acuff Jr., but a college coach that has watched Brown play explains why the Nets may have been sold on him.
“I first saw him at the U19 [World Cup last summer]. Holy smokes, he was incredible over there. And that was with AJ [Dybantsa], that was with Koa Peat,” a college coach said of Brown to ESPN’s Jeff Borzello. Heading into the draft, most mocks had the Nets taking Acuff given his projection as a point guard that can become an offensive engine for a team, but Brown clearly has his unique traits as well.
“I think what’s really exciting about Brown is the positional size. He’s a legitimate 6-4, 6-5, might still be growing. His passing is what’s most exciting about him,” the college coach continued on Brown, per Borzello. “He’s a big point guard, pick-and-roll with space, he can really pick you apart. He has to cut down on turnovers and risks. He shot some tough shots; he has to clean some of that up.”
While Acuff was mocked to the Nets by most teams, Brown still had his place within the 5-10 range of the first round with some outlets having him in consideration by the Los Angeles Clippers with the No. 5 pick. Brown finished his freshman season with the Cardinals with averages of 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 4.7 assists per game while shooting 41.0% from the field and 34.4% from behind the three-point line.
Brown played just 21 games during the 2025-26 season due to a back injury, but he proved over the course of the pre-draft process that the back is no longer an issue moving forward. While some fans may still disapprove of the Nets taking Brown over Acuff, but when you hear it from people that have had to watch him play and gameplan against him, it seems like Brown has a high ceiling of his own.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: Nets’ Mikel Brown Jr. evaluated by college coach after 2026 NBA Draft
Reporting by Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire / Nets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Sharif Phillips-Keaton, Nets Wire | USA TODAY Network
