This summer, Louisville basketball fans get to enjoy watching multiple former Cardinals at the NBA Summer League. From this past season, four Cardinals were invited to NBA Summer League teams, including Mikel Brown Jr., Ryan Conwell, Isaac McKneely, and J’Vonne Hadley.
Brown and Conwell were each selected in the draft, as Brown was the first Cardinal drafted in the first round since Donovan Mitchell went No. 13 overall in the 2017 NBA Draft. Now, the former 5-star freshman is quickly turning heads this summer with two performances, including last night, when Brown put on a show and showcased what makes him so special.
Mikel Brown Jr. has a deep offensive bag
The No. 6 overall pick played in his second game this summer, and once again had an eye-popping performance. Brown scored 16 points in 19 minutes after he went 6-of-11 from the field and 2-of-5 from beyond the arc.
And when Louisville and Nets fans watched Brown’s 19 minutes, a few sequences stand out, but one in particular. Brown is an elite playmaker and can create shots for himself and teammates, and last night he showcased that at a high level.
The former Cardinal had a silky smooth sequence against the No. 7 overall pick, Darius Acuff Jr. Brown was attacking Acuff all night long, especially this one sequence. Brown hit Acuff with a nasty crossover, quickly followed by a hesitation, and then nailed a fade-away jumper on Acuff after faking a spin move.
Go ahead and watch below.
Mikel Brown Jr. bag work 🔥 pic.twitter.com/H578Si5Ez6
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) July 14, 2026
Brown’s offensive bag is deep, and this sequence is a perfect example. The 6-foot-5 point guard has the ability to score off the dribble from the rim, mid-range, or well beyond the arc. What makes Brown so special is his ability to play at his own pace and play with poise. The former Cardinal is always calm, and his offensive game is so deep that it is why he has such a high ceiling.
Last night, Brown made multiple plays on Acuff, and while this incredible move stands out, others are worth mentioning, like when he picked Acuff off in transition and followed it with a mid-range jumper off another impressive behind-the-back into a step-back.
Brown is impressive in these two games, and while some Nets fans might have wanted to select Acuff with the No. 6 pick, Brown is showing this summer why his ceiling is so high.
The former Cardinal averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game for Louisville in his lone year with the Cardinals. Brown is the second-highest commitment in program history, and this nasty move on Acuff is giving the Nets fans a nice preview of what is to come this upcoming 2026-27 season.
Add us as a preferred source on Google