Louisville fans finally get the matchup they’ve been waiting for: Mikel Brown Jr. is set to make his Brooklyn Nets preseason debut Wednesday night against the Miami Heat, and that means a first look at the former Cardinal in a pro jersey against his old Louisville teammate, Ryan Conwell.
Brown has been sidelined for Brooklyn’s first three preseason games, including Monday’s meeting with Washington, but Nets coach Jordi Fernández said Tuesday that the No. 6 overall pick is expected to play against Miami. Nets reporter Brian Lewis posted the update that Brown “is expected to debut Wednesday at the #Heat.”
For Louisville supporters, the timing makes this even better. Brown and Conwell were both part of the Cardinals’ 2025-26 team under Pat Kelsey, and both guards led Louisville in scoring before hearing their names called in the 2026 NBA Draft. Conwell, meanwhile, has already started making noise with Miami as he works to carve out a role off the bench.
Brown’s lone season in Louisville gave fans plenty to remember. He averaged 18.2 points per game and caught fire in the second half before a back injury against Clemson knocked him out of the ACC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.
The Nets still used the lottery pick on him at No. 6 overall, and he’s already shown plenty in Summer League. Brown appeared in four games and put up 15 points, 4 assists, 1.5 rebounds and 1.2 steals per contest while shooting 34.6 percent from three. His debut in that setting turned heads right away: 20 points on 6-of-12 shooting and 3-of-6 from deep.
Conwell has been productive in his own preseason work, too. Through two games, he’s averaging 14 points and 5.5 assists, and his latest outing was his best yet with 22 points and nine assists.
Brooklyn and Miami will see plenty more of each other once the regular season starts, so this won’t be the only Brown-Conwell reunion. Still, as Brown’s first preseason action and a head-to-head with a former Louisville teammate, Wednesday night is the one Cardinals fans have circled.
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