Mikel Brown Jr. has already given the Nets plenty to like this summer, and Jordi Fernandez is not hiding his early impressions.
The No. 6 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft has looked the part through Brooklyn’s summer run, first at the California Classic and then in Las Vegas. Brown is averaging 15.0 points and 3.5 assists over two games, while shooting 43.5% from the field and 45.5% from three. He has also averaged 20.6 minutes per game as the Nets’ medical staff works to manage his recovery from the back injury he dealt with during the college basketball season.
Fernandez, speaking during an ESPN interview at the Las Vegas Summer League, pointed to the way Brown carries himself on the floor.
"The way he moves, he's explosive, but under control. How he shoots the ball, he can chest drive defensively, and then you get to talk to him, and he has a special energy," Fernandez said of Brown during his ESPN interview at the Las Vegas Summer League.
That blend of skill and personality has stood out to Brooklyn’s coach. Fernandez also praised Brown’s feel for the game and the way he connects with people.
"He's very smart. He's a very sociable kid.
He connects with people right away, and that's what you want from a young leader right there," Fernandez continued on Brown. "An incredible family.
I think [general manager] Sean [Marks] and his group have always done a great job bringing in the right character. Character for us is very important, and Mikel just fits what we're trying to do here."
Brown’s summer film has backed up the buzz. He has shown flashes of being the kind of player who can get a crowd buzzing when he gets rolling, and he appears to be trending in the right direction physically as he gets more run.
There will still be the usual rookie bumps ahead, but Fernandez has seen enough to feel good about where the 20-year-old is headed. Brown is expected to be part of Brooklyn’s rotation, with the starting point guard job also in play.
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