Mikel Brown Jr.’s first NBA offseason has already come with a few bumps, and the Brooklyn Nets still don’t know whether their top draft pick will be ready when preseason opens.
Brown, the standout Louisville freshman point guard Brooklyn selected in this year’s draft, was brought in to pair with second-year guard Egor Dëmin. Instead, his summer has been interrupted by injuries. He was limited during Summer League and is now dealing with an ankle issue heading into preseason.
On Thursday, the New York Post’s Brian Lewis reported that Brown still has not been cleared for contact. Brown said the focus right now is simply getting his body back right.
"Yeah, as of right now they’re just telling me you could get back moving a little bit, really just trying to get the strengthening it up back,” Brown said about his injury. “I mean, I am back on the court moving.
That’s all I’m really worried about right now. I’m just taking it one step at a time.”
The Nets are set to open preseason Tuesday against the Charlotte Hornets, but Brown’s status remains up in the air. A return for Monday’s practice is possible, though the team appears likely to take a careful approach. When asked whether he expected to play in any preseason games, Brown said he’s concentrating on getting back on the court as soon as he can and will leave the final call to the coaching staff.
Even with the injury concern, Brown’s summer offered a clear glimpse of why Brooklyn wanted him. At Summer League, he averaged 16.7 points, 4.0 assists and 1.7 steals per game. In his first appearance, he flashed the passing creativity that made him such a strong prospect, hitting teammates with wraparound feeds on the wing and later burying a corner 3-pointer for his first professional basket.
He also stood out on defense, where his length and size let him bother opposing guards and create turnovers.
That blend of playmaking, defensive activity and range is exactly the kind of guard the Nets are trying to build around.
Brown’s college resume was just as loud. In a 40-point blowout win over ACC-rival NC State, he tied a program record with 45 points while shooting over 60-percent from the field and 3-point range.
He drilled 10-of-16 from deep and made all seven of his free throws. That performance also matched Wes Unseld’s single-game scoring record in Louisville history.
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