The Brooklyn Nets open their 2026-2027 NBA season Wednesday night against the Charlotte Hornets, and while the spotlight will be on the start of the new campaign, rookie point guard Mikel Brown Jr. will be entering it with a careful workload.
Brown is still working his way back to full health after a lingering ankle injury from Summer League, and he’s expected to be on a minutes restriction in Game 1. That likely means he begins his NBA career coming off the bench, even though the buzz around him has been building since the preseason.
For Brown, the moment is still a big one. “The vibes are high...it’s going to be surreal running out of that tunnel…" Brown told media. "I’m just ready to hoop."
His lone preseason appearance offered a quick glimpse of why the Nets are intrigued. Against the Miami Heat’s preseason squad, Brown put up 15 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals in 18 minutes. He also showed the shot-making and burst that made him such an appealing prospect, drilling his first attempt - a wing 3-pointer - soon after checking in.
Brown didn’t just make noise on offense. He also flashed sharp instincts on defense, picking off two passes and turning them into easy points going the other way.
That limited preseason sample, though, came with an important caveat: Brown’s injury kept him sidelined for most of the exhibition slate. Given that, head coach Jordi Fernández said a patient approach makes sense.
“If you play less than 24 minutes, it’s hard to start…" Fernández explained. "We’re not there yet [with Mikel].
I need him to build the right way and impact the game. And as you're building and coming off the bench, I still have the luxury to finish games with him if I need to."
Brooklyn’s preseason numbers gave Fernández plenty to feel good about on the team side, too. Across four games, the Nets led the NBA in points per game and offensive rating, a strong sign that the offense can carry some early momentum into the regular season.
Brown’s fit with Dëmin is part of that excitement. The two bring scoring ability from all three levels, and both have room to grow as passers and as complete players. Brown and Dëmin also spent plenty of time together over the offseason, with Dëmin saying they put in a lot of work during the summer.
For Brooklyn, the opening night backdrop is simple enough: the season begins, the offense has already shown some pop, and a highly regarded rookie gets his first taste of the league in a controlled role. The backcourt picture in Brooklyn already looks promising, and the front office has reason to believe the group can keep trending up.
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Nets Fans Are Still Waiting For Their Rookie Backcourt Look
The early months of the Nets season have already put a temporary pause on one of the rosters most intriguing ideas. Mikel Brown Jr. is beginning the year off the bench, and Egor Demin will open games next to veteran guard Keon Ellis, even though Brown and Demin flashed real chemistry together in Summer League and during open runs.
For now, Brooklyn is still waiting to see that rookie backcourt take shape in regular-season action. Browns role is being managed as he comes back from an ankle issue, which has limited his minutes, and the bigger picture remains the same: the Nets want those two young guards to grow into a pairing that can share the floor more naturally as the season goes on. [Read more 🡒]
Egor Demin Faces One Big Test In Nets Sophomore Year
Egor Demin has spent the offseason and preseason looking like a different version of himself, at least physically, and the early signs have been encouraging for Brooklyn. The Nets guard has added noticeable strength, and both he and coach Jordi Fernandez have pointed to a more confident approach when he gets downhill and tries to get into the paint.
The real examination comes now, once the games start counting and defenders are set to meet him at the rim every night. Brooklyn wants Demin to keep building on that aggression, but the next step is learning how to turn those drives into efficient offense against bigger, stronger resistance, which is where his early progress will either stick or get exposed. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Open With An Early Opportunity They Really Need To Cash In
Charlotte is handing Brooklyn a little early-season breathing room, at least on paper, with the Hornets set to open without three rotation pieces. Kon Knueppel, Coby White and Grant Williams are all dealing with lower-body injuries, leaving Charlotte short right from the start and giving the Nets a chance to take advantage of an opener that looks a bit friendlier than it did a week ago.
The details matter here because the absences are not long-term mysteries so much as early-season setbacks the Hornets are hoping to move past later on. Still, opening night is opening night, and Brooklyn will be expected to press every edge it can find while Charlotte works through its depth issues and tries to piece together a lineup without some familiar names. [Read more 🡒]