With the No. 6 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Nets have selected Louisville freshman guard Mikel Brown Jr.

Brown, 20, put together an impressive freshman year with the Cardinals in 2025-26, averaging 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, and 3.3 rebounds per game in just 21 contests due to a back injury.

The 6-foot-5 guard put his name on the map and into the top-10 of many mock drafts with an ACC single-game freshman record 45 points, including 10 three-pointers, on Feb. 9 against NC State. The scoring outburst broke 2025 No. 1 pick Cooper Flagg’s conference record for a freshman (42 points) and tied the school single-game record (Wes Unseld).

His strong performances earned him ACC All-Rookie team and third-team All-ACC honors. Brown was also a consensus five-star recruit out of DME Academy in Florida in 2025, being named a McDonald’s All-American and a member of Team USA for the Nike Hoop Summit. He previously represented Team USA at the 2024 FIBA Under-18 AmeriCup and the 2025 FIBA U19 World Cup, helping the teams take home gold in both tournaments.

Brown should fit in to Brooklyn's backcourt nicely alongside 2025 No. 8 pick Egor Demin, giving the team a much-needed scoring guard amid their rebuild.

He met with head coach Jordi Fernandez at the Combine and in Orlando ahead of the draft and said he's already built a good relationship with the organization.

“I’ve definitely built a relationship there,” Brown said. “Talking with them constantly the biggest thing they emphasized if I do get selected was just building that relationship with [head coach Jordi Fernandez].

“You have to have a great connection from point guard to head coach, he played point guard as well, so to be able to pick his brain and learn the system and be able to make an impact right away was big.”

After being selected, Brown reemphasized that close relationship he's built with Fernandez, saying he's "ride-or-die" for the head coach and GM Sean Marks, and believes he'll "fit right in." He looks forward to teaming up with all five of Brooklyn's rookies from last year and learn from veterans like Michael Porter Jr. and newly acquired Julius Randle.

"Just come in and be an impact guy right away," Brown said Tuesday night. "And do what I do best, that's creating for others and also creating for myself to score. Obviously being around veterans like Michael Porter Jr. that's proven in this league, and Julius Randle that's proven in this league is going to help as well because I get to learn from them as well.

"Kind of just feel like I plug in well because they're young and we're going to go through some hardships together and we're gonna go through the good times together. I can't wait."

Looking ahead, Brown said fans can expect him to "bring a winning mentality" on the court and off the court he's "a great guy to be around" and is "for the people."

"On the court, I'm a creator," Brown said. "A guy that's going to be a connector and a guy that can go get you one as well. You know, be that guy. Along with my teammates, like I said, just to put them in a position to be successful as well. Feed off of them and eat off of them as well."

Joshua Jefferson selected with No. 28 pick

Brooklyn used it's second first-rounder (acquired on Monday in the Randle-Nic Claxton three-team deal with Minnesota and Chicago) on Iowa State forward Joshua Jefferson.

Jefferson, 22, is listed at 6-foot-9 and 240 pounds. He played his first two years of college basketball at Saint Mary's and then finished his final two years with the Cyclones.

The forward averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.8 assists per game in 35 games for ISU during the 205-26 season.

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