Mikel Brown Jr. is starting to find his footing in the NBA.
The former Louisville standout, taken No. 6 overall by the Brooklyn Nets after one season with the Cardinals, turned in the best performance of his young pro career last night in a 114-104 win over the Charlotte Hornets. It was also Brown’s first NBA victory in his sixth game with the Nets.
Brown finished with 18 points, a season high, while shooting 6-of-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range. He added four assists, three rebounds, one steal and one block in 20 minutes.
That was a sharp jump from where things stood early in the season. In his first five games, Brown had trouble getting his shot going, averaging just three made field goals per game in October. Through his first four outings, he shot 27% from the field and 29% from beyond the arc.
The rookie’s numbers have started to climb in November. Against the Knicks, he scored 13 points and shot 38.5% from the field, both career bests at the time. He also matched his previous high with five made field goals, going 5-of-13 and hitting one 3-pointer.
Last night, he took another step. Brown’s 54.5% shooting from the field marked a new career high, and his six made field goals were the most he has had in a game so far. He also knocked down 60% of his threes, showing a more efficient and more confident version of his game.
Brown’s impact went beyond the scoring column. He attacked the defense in a variety of ways, finishing through contact at the rim, connecting on tough fadeaways and step-back 3s, and even delivering a no-look pass to Moritz Wagner for a basket.
For Brooklyn, the win moved the team to 2-6 on the season. The Nets will go for their second straight victory and third overall when they face the Atlanta Hawks on the road Saturday at 7:30 p.m. local time.
In Other News...
Louisville Showed Early Promise But One Problem Kept Showing Up
Louisville came out with a clear plan against Stanford, leaning on option looks and trying to create easy answers for quarterback Lincoln Kienholz. The offense had moments where the approach made sense, especially when the Cardinals targeted specific receivers to keep the defense honest and open up space. For stretches, it looked like the kind of game plan that could settle things down and give Louisville a rhythm.
The problem was that the same issues kept surfacing on the other side of the ball. Louisvilles zone coverage left openings, and the linebacker positioning did not hold up when Stanford started finding key conversions. Even as Kienholzs decisions shaped the offensive flow, the Cardinals could not get enough stops to make the early promise matter, which left the larger question hanging over the performance. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Has A Clear Opening Against Georgia Techs Biggest Weakness
Louisville heads into this matchup with a clear path to stress Georgia Tech in the one area that has looked vulnerable all season. Brent Key has had to manage a defense that has not held up consistently, and the issues have reached the point where changes on the staff are being discussed. With key contributors like Tawfiq Thomas, Noah Carter, Taje McCoy, E.J. Lightsey and Cayman Spaulding in the mix, the Yellow Jackets still have pieces to work with, but the unit has not come together the way it needed to.
The biggest concern has been the secondary, which has struggled to defend passes and has allowed opposing quarterbacks too much success. Kyle Effords medically driven retirement earlier in the season only added to the uncertainty, and Louisville will be watching closely to see whether Georgia Tech can tighten up in coverage. For the Cardinals, this is the kind of opening that can shape a game early if they are sharp enough to take advantage of it. [Read more 🡒]
Louisville Faces A Much Trickier Georgia Tech Test Than Fans Expected
Louisville heads into its trip to Georgia Tech riding real momentum after a 52-24 win over Stanford extended the Cardinals winning streak to three and pushed them to 5-3 overall, 4-2 in conference play. The recent run has steadied a season that looked uneven earlier, and it has also given the Cardinals a little breathing room as they turn toward a road game that now carries more intrigue than it might have a few weeks ago.
Georgia Tech has not been a comfortable stop for Louisville in the past, even with the Cardinals taking the last two meetings in a series that has only gone four games deep. This time, the challenge is sharpened by the injury report, with several Louisville players listed as out or questionable, leaving the Cardinals to sort through depth and availability before a test that suddenly looks a lot less straightforward than fans may have expected. [Read more 🡒]