The 2026 NBA Draft concluded Wednesday evening, and Louisville basketball fans saw a couple of Cardinals drafted in the two-day event. The first Cardinal selected was the former 5-star freshman Mikel Brown Jr., who went to the East and the Brooklyn Nets with the No. 6 overall pick in the NBA Draft.
NBA analyst calls Mikel Brown Jr. a potential home run pick—with one major question
Brown, going No. 6 overall, snapped multiple draft droughts for the Cardinals and etched his name into the Louisville history books. He was the first Cardinal to go in the first round since the 2017 NBA Draft when Donovan Mitchell was selected, and he was the first Cardinal to go in the top six since Felton Spencer in the 1990 draft.
On day two, Louisville fans saw one of their favorite players from this past season, Ryan Conwell, get drafted, and the former Cardinal is set to make an immediate impact with the Miami Heat, being a crucial addition following the blockbuster Giannis Antetokounmpo trade.
Ryan Conwell goes to the Miami Heat
The Heat traded multiple players and draft picks for two-time NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo. As a result of the Heat trading for the star forward, the Heat desperately needed to replace Tyler Herro, and that is exactly what they did by drafting Conwell.
Oklahoma City is trading the 37th pick, former Louisville guard Ryan Conwell, to Miami for the 41st pick and cash, per @ShamsCharania.
— Yahoo Sports (@YahooSports) June 25, 2026
The newest player to join Giannis and Bam on the Heat 👀 pic.twitter.com/hTKMG8a4T4
The former Cardinal is coming off an eye-popping season in which he led Louisville, averaging nearly 19 points per game at 18.8 while also shooting 35 percent from beyond the arc. Conwell has a silky smooth shot, and he can shoot from downtown in multiple ways, whether that is off the dribble or from a pass.
This past season with Louisville, he knocked down 112 3-pointers, and the year prior with Xavier was his best statistical year from downtown, making 99 3’s on 41.2 percent from 3-point range. The elite guard in his college career averaged 2.5 made 3’s per game while shooting 37.6 from beyond the arc across four seasons and making a total of 347 shots from downtown.
With the Heat now having a dominant frontcourt in Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo, getting a player like Conwell, who can space the floor, was crucial for the Miami Heat. The former Cardinal will fit right in with the Heat's system and could be a major contributor thanks to his ability to knock down shots.
This was a perfect spot for Conwell, as he will likely make an immediate impact with the Heat and be that sharpshooter the Heat and Antetokounmpo need after the blockbuster trade. Conwell was selected No. 37 overall, marking the first time since 2015 that Louisville fans saw multiple Cardinals selected in the NBA Draft.
Conwell will play for the Heat in the NBA Summer League, and the former Cardinal will hopefully be a key piece coming off the bench, serving as Antetokounmpo's secret weapon as the Heat chase an NBA Title.
Also read:Â Mikel Brown Jr.'s NBA Draft rise is a painful reminder for Louisville basketball fans
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