Projected lottery pick Mikel Brown Jr. has confirmed that he intends to enter the 2026 NBA draft, revealing his plans to Marc J. Spears of Andscape.
Brown, 20, had a strong freshman season for Louisville in 2025/26, averaging 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 29.2 minutes per game. His shooting line was .410/.344/.844.
Unfortunately, the 6’5″ guard battled back issues for much of the season and was limited to 21 outings, including 19 starts. Brown didn’t play after February 28, and while he was only formally ruled out for the first two rounds of the NCAA tournament, he suggested to Spears that he likely wouldn’t have been able to suit up even if the Cardinals had advanced to the Sweet 16.
“(My back) really was messed up, but I just kept trying to play through it. And then eventually it just led me to the decision that I wasn’t going to play in both tournaments — the ACC tournament and the NCAA tournament — just because I’m not trained to go half speed at all,” he said. “I always want to go full speed in everything I do, whether that’s me working out or playing a game. I just wasn’t able to do that at the time. So, I just felt like it was best for me to just sit out.”
According to Brown, his injury – diagnosed as a back strain – is improving. He told Spears he’s optimistic that he’ll be able to take part in pre-draft workouts this spring and play in Summer League in July.
While teams drafting in the lottery will likely want to take a close look at Brown’s medicals leading up to June’s draft, the sense remains that he’s a strong candidate to come off the board within the first 10 picks. ESPN’s Jeremy Woo has Brown ranked ninth on his big board, while Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has him being selected at No. 8 in his newly updated mock draft.
As Wasserman writes, Brown showed off impressive shot-making and offensive creativity as a college freshman, though he took some questionable shots and didn’t have a great assist-to-turnover ratio. Comparing Brown to Tyler Herro, Wasserman says some NBA evaluators may view him as more of an “offensive spark or specialist” rather than a lead guard.
No way he is worth a lottery pick with a bad back at age 20. There are a lot better oplayers than a 1 year player. He should stay in school for another year and prove he is healthy. I would never trust a player with 1 year of stats and injured.
He is arc. He will go top 8 probably. Bulls not passing on him. Search him. The back just needs to heal. He came back too soon was the issue. He is a big guard. Just needs to grow up and get strong. 19 yr olds lol.
I see too many red flags for a team to use a lottery pick for him. He did well the fist couple week and then was average. Type of player that should stay in school another year. Reminds me of another player that came out early that struggled in the NBA. If its a pick after top 20 but not a lottery pick in this draft.
Red flags as in plural. arc he dealt with a back issue and came back too soon. That affects your play. You should praise him for trying. Like I said get the whole story lol.
link to sports.yahoo.com
link to babcockhoops.com
Back issues can pop up at any time and once you hurt it easier it gets hurt again. I also do not like some of his numbers. He sounds more like a player that will need a few years to be NBA ready. He needs to go to a team that will give him a couple of years in the G league.
Read about it. Why are you arguing just to argue. He had MRI. He is fine.
Imo Brown is going to Bulls. If he is still there. But chk this out lols.
Blazers have three gns left.
@Spurs, Clippers, Kings. Blazers go 3-0. They are the 8th seed. And play Suns for 7th seed. Best case scenario.
Clippers have four gms left.
Mavs, Thunder, @Blazers, Warriors. Clippers will do What ?? Go 2-2.
If Blazers go 2-1 but beat Clippers at home. And Clippers go 2-2. They both finish at 42–40. Blazers have to win Clippers gm at home. To be 2-2 for season against Clippers. So it goes to next tie breaker. Which is division games records. Then conference gm records. On division gms Clippers will get tie breaker.
So Bulls need Clippers to go 1-3. Or Blazers go 3-0 to end season. Still a chance for Bulls pick.
The only thing that’s changed is whether the Blazers will have to 1 game or 2 to be the 8 seed. 7Th seed and a lock for the Bulls basically ended when the Bulls slept through their Phoenix game and the Blazers blew a 14 point lead in the 4th Qtr and lost in Denver last night. hose 2 games were crushers. Blazers will have to win 2 games in the PI for the Bulls to get the pick.
Yes sir. Thats why you want them to play Suns All they need is to go 3-0. Even 2-1 tgey have shot. They can heat Suns. Thats 7th seed. They lose to Suns they still play Clippers most likely for 8th seed. Yeah that Denver gm.
They beat Spurs (no Wemby) lol. They can go 3-0. Then they play Suns. That’s what you want.
I don’t want any part of this guy. The only G’s they should even consider if they end up 9th are Wagler or maybe Acuff. If there is no F or C they think is worth taking they should trade back and get some more assets. Hopefully they hire someone who knows how to make a trade because AK and Eversley are HORRIBLE at it. I’ve never seen anybody who was that bad at it in my life.