Louisville basketball fans saw a couple of Cardinals get drafted in the 2026 NBA Draft, as Mikel Brown Jr. went No. 6 overall to the Brooklyn Nets, and Ryan Conwell went No. 37 overall (7th pick in the second round) to the Miami Heat. Conwell recently made his preseason debut against the Raptors, scoring six points in 18 minutes off the bench on 3-of-8 from the field and 0-for-3 from beyond the arc.
Ryan Conwell is making the Miami Heat look like geniuses with Summer League breakout
That debut didn’t sit well with the former Cardinal, as he has expectations to make an immediate impact for Erik Spoelstra and emerge as a key bench piece. Conwell certainly bounced back in the Heat’s second game, popping off and showing exactly why he can be a key role player for Miami this year.
Louisville fans will love Ryan Conwell’s response after a quiet NBA debut
The Miami Heat fell to the Minnesota Timberwolves 125-124, but in the Heat’s loss it was Conwell who stood out. The former Cardinal played 32 minutes, most in the second half, and showed Spoelstra why he deserves a spot in the rotation.
Conwell led Miami in scoring with 22 points, while also adding nine assists, five rebounds and two steals. The second-round pick made his mark in the NBA Summer League and carried it into training camp; now, in his second preseason game, he is making a name for himself.
Ryan Conwell, everyone 😤 https://t.co/bUVF228etx pic.twitter.com/AvoaX9YhS3
— Miami HEAT (@MiamiHEAT) October 11, 2026
“I mean, it’s a blessing to just be in the position that I am in,” stated Conwell after his impressive preseason performance. “Everything matters. It doesn’t matter the game; whether it’s preseason, regular season, or practice, it all matters. Just for them to look at me in that regard, at that moment in the game, I am thankful for it, and I am ready for it as well. I have put a lot of work in the gym every single day, and I embrace the moments, and I feel like I thrive in those moments.”
To Louisville fans, this isn’t a surprise. Conwell was one of Kelsey’s best players last year, leading the team in scoring with 18.8 points per game while shooting 40.8 percent from the field. On top of scoring, he averaged 4.8 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.1 steals in 34 games. Conwell is an elite scorer but can also facilitate and make plays for others, and he showed that last night with 22 points and 9 assists.
The former Cardinal will try to build on this impressive preseason performance as the Heat face Mikel Brown Jr. and the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday, October 14. With Conwell fighting for minutes and a spot in the rotation, Wednesday will be a big game for the former Cardinal, but yesterday’s performance was certainly a step in the right direction.
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