The basketball season is just around the corner, and fans from across the nation can not wait. The NBA preseason is wrapping up, and for some, it has officially concluded. Cardinals fans are keeping a close eye on a few former players, as two former Cards are set to make their NBA debut soon.
Mikel Brown Jr. just gave the Brooklyn Nets a glimpse of his scary potential
Ryan Conwell was drafted and traded to the Miami Heat this past June and is quickly turning heads. The former Cardinal had an impressive NBA Summer League experience and carried that into a solid training camp, but he just elevated his play in the preseason.
The Heat needed a scorer off the bench and a solid role player to play alongside their elite frontcourt, and Conwell’s preseason experience proved he's the guy.
Ryan Conwell made his presence felt in the NBA preseason
The NBA saw major offseason moves, and one of the biggest was the Miami Heat acquiring two-time NBA MVP and 10-time All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Heat paired Antetokounmpo with Bam Adebayo, creating a dominant frontcourt that is now among the NBA's best.
However, the major concern is whether there will be enough spacing and scoring around these two forwards. Well, Conwell is making his case not only to earn valuable minutes off the bench, but to be that guy immediatley.
The former Cardinal ended preseason with another impressive performance, leading the Heat in scoring with 21 points in their loss to the Magic. Conwell ended the game shooting 3-of-7 from beyond the arc (42.9%) and 9-of-17 from the field (52.9%), while showing his playmaking ability and adding seven assists.
Ryan Conwell has been impressive
— Heat Clips 🎬 (@MiamiClip) October 17, 2026
21 PTS - 7 AST - 1 STL - 53 FG% pic.twitter.com/ZhnGJz17QJ
In the Heat’s five preseason games, Conwell led all Miami scorers in scoring twice, with 21 points against the Magic and 22 against the Timberwolves. He finished preseason averaging 13 points and 4.8 assists off the bench, shooting 43% from the field and making eight 3-pointers in five games.
Conwell was one of the biggest steals in the draft and was a perfect pick for the Heat. He is quickly showcasing why he was a perfect pick for Miami and why he can make an immediate impact for Erik Spoelstra and the Heat.
He made 99 3-pointers or more in his last three college seasons, including last year with Louisville, where he hit a career-high 112. Conwell led Louisville in scoring, averaging 18.8 points per game, and finished the season with 15 games with 20+ points, including 2 games with 30+. Now, he is already proving he can score at a high level in the NBA and is proving he can be a valuable asset for the Heat in his rookie season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google