The Atlantic Division doesn’t leave much room for mercy at point guard. New York is coming off a championship, Toronto and Philadelphia both made major offseason moves, and Boston still carries the kind of pedigree that makes every night feel like a test. Brooklyn, meanwhile, is trying to climb out of that pile with a young backcourt that has plenty to prove.
That makes Mikel Brown Jr. a name worth watching right away. The 2026 lottery pick hasn’t played an NBA game yet, but his place in this conversation says more about the division than it does about him.
Brown’s last season at Louisville produced 18.2 points, 3.3 rebounds, 4.7 assists and a 34.4% mark from three, and the appeal is obvious: he can score in bunches and brings defensive upside, too. For the Nets, his development matters a lot.
If he hits, he could rise quickly through this group.
Right now, though, Brown sits behind a deeper crop of established guards. Payton Pritchard is set to move into Boston’s starting lineup officially after starting 50 games last season.
He put together a strong year, averaging 17.0 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.2 assists and shooting 37.7% from deep. The bigger role should come with more responsibility, but the scoring touch and playmaking growth are already there.
With Jaylen Brown no longer in town, Pritchard could take another step.
Toronto’s Immanuel Quickley is next, and his case comes down to availability. When he’s on the floor, he changes games.
Last season he posted 16.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 5.9 assists while hitting 37.4% of his threes, and he played 70 games. But the year before, he appeared in just 33 games, and an injury kept him out of the playoffs.
The Raptors need him healthy if they’re going to chase their goals next season.
Then there’s Tyrese Maxey, who would be the easy No. 1 in a lot of divisions. He put up 28.3 points, 4.1 rebounds and 6.6 assists last season while shooting 36.7% from three.
He’s a dynamic scorer, a defensive irritant and a blur in transition. Even with LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in the mix, Philadelphia is still going to lean on Maxey heavily.
At the top of the list is Jalen Brunson, and it’s hard to argue with it. He’s been one of the league’s best regular-season guards for years, and last season he carried that level straight into the playoffs.
His championship run with the Knicks ended with a perfect 45-point performance in the close-out game, and his final numbers - 26.0 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 36.9% from three - only reinforce the case. In a division this loaded, Brunson stands alone at the top.
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For a team trying to turn offseason moves into something more tangible, the schedule matters almost as much as the roster. It shows when the first heavy stretch arrives, how soon the new-look group gets tested, and where the long road trips and home stands might shape the early rhythm of the year. Until then, the Nets can only prepare in broad strokes while waiting for the matchups that will tell the real story of how this season is likely to unfold. [Read more 🡒]