Louisville basketball fans got to watch a fun NBA preseason game last night as two former Cardinals went head-to-head for the first time in their NBA careers. Louisville had two Cardinals drafted in the NBA Draft in 2026, as Mikel Brown Jr. was drafted No. 6 overall and Ryan Conwell was drafted No. 37 overall.
Louisville fans won’t want to miss Mikel Brown Jr.’s long-awaited Nets preseason debut
Conwell has played in every preseason game so far, while last night marked Brown’s NBA preseason debut. The NBA lottery pick enters his rookie year with high expectations, as a former 5-star recruit coming off an eye-popping season in which he averaged over 18 points.
After missing the first three preseason games, Brown made his highly anticipated debut and quickly reminded everyone why he was the No. 6 overall pick.
Mikel Brown Jr. wasted no time showing the Nets what he can do
The 6-foot-5 guard is quick, has limitless range, is explosive, and is an offensive fire power for the Brooklyn Nets. Brown faces plenty of criticism entering his first year, with many questioning his health. He missed 14 games during his lone year at Louisville, and after a limited summer league, he missed the first three preseason games.
When Brown was drafted, one New York sports reporter said, “Clearly, this organization has no idea what the hell they are doing,” when they drafted Brown over Darius Acuff Jr. Well, it is safe to say maybe the Nets did know what they were doing, as Brown just sent a major statement in his first NBA game, scoring 15 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field, 2-of-5 from beyond the arc, 5-of-5 from the free throw line, while adding three rebounds, three assists, and two steals in just 18 minutes.
Mikel Brown Jr. 15-3-3-2 (4/7 FG) in 18 mins pic.twitter.com/3clnlu6qkF
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) October 15, 2026
Brown’s impressive debut showed flashes of his potential and reminded everyone why he was selected No. 6 overall. He showed he can connect on 3s, including his first shot of the game from the left wing, while also showing off his speed by blowing by his defender, attacking the rim, and drawing fouls.
Brown missed 14 games with UofL last year, but Louisville fans saw his potential in multiple games, especially toward the end of the season. Brown got hot in the last stretch before his second back injury, scoring 19+ points in his final five games, including 29 points in two consecutive games and 45 against North Carolina State.
The Cardinals' former 5-star made an immediate impact in his preseason debut and will look to carry that into his first NBA season with the Nets. Brooklyn has completed its preseason, and Brown will make his official NBA debut against the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
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