Louisville basketball fans have had some fun this offseason watching former Cardinals shine in the NBA Summer League. This summer has been filled with alumni content, as Donovan Mitchell earned an eye-popping contract extension with the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Ryan Conwell and Mikel Brown Jr. are having impressive summers on their respective NBA Summer League Teams.
Conwell and Brown were both selected in the NBA Draft, with Conwell going No. 37 overall to the Miami Heat and Brown going No. 6 overall to the Brooklyn Nets. Conwell has been one of the big stars for the Heat this summer so far, averaging over 20 points per game in four games, including a dominant 26-point performance. As for Brown, the former 5-star Louisville commit made his highly anticipated Summer League debut earlier this week, and the elite point guard quickly showed why he was the right pick.
Mikel Brown Jr. has an impressive NBA Summer League debut
Now, there are of course other factors than the Summer League, but Brown had an eye-popping debut earlier this July, giving Nets fans a lot of reassurance that he was the right pick at No. 6. There was a lot of hate from Brooklyn fans about picking Brown at No. 6 over Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff Jr.
However, Brown’s first game showed why he was the right pick. The former Cardinal scored 20 points in the Nets' blowout win over the New York Knicks, 91-65. Brown’s 20 points were tied for the game high as Nets 2025 top 10 pick Egor Demin also scored 20 points.
In Brown’s 22 minutes, the top 10 pick showed why he has such high potential, scoring 20 points on 50 percent shooting from the field (6-of-12) and 50 percent shooting from beyond the arc (3-of-6). The elite Cardinal showcased his ability to score in multiple ways, including off the dribble and exploding to the rim, mid-range jumpers, and from beyond the arc off the dribble and off the pass.
Brown was one of the best guards in college basketball when he was on the floor for Louisville this past season. He showed his ability to rise up and slam it down for two like his monster dunk against Arkansas, while also showing his ability to score at a high level like his historic 45-point game against North Carolina State, where he splashed 10 3’s.
In Brown’s first game, he showed his ability to create shots for himself and make difficult shots from well beyond the arc, and showcased his playmaking by creating shots for his teammates. The No. 6 overall pick added three assists, two steals, one rebound, and one block.
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