Julius Randle said mentoring rookie Mikel Brown Jr. is a top priority with the Nets, as the veteran forward aims to help Brooklyn’s young core build a winning culture on and off the court.
Twelve years after being drafted in the NBA, Julius Randle looks more than ready to handle a leadership role for the Brooklyn Nets. The veteran forward wants to do more than help the Nets win games.
The four-time All-Star says one of his biggest priorities is mentoring rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr. as he begins his NBA career.
Randle, who officially joined the Nets as part of a four-team trade from the Minnesota Timberwolves, said he reached out to Brown shortly after the draft and made it clear he wanted to become a trusted veteran presence.
"I just told him I was excited to help him," Randle said. "I really want to be that vet he can come and talk to. I know how it is early in your career."
Randle said he hopes to support Brown through every stage of his rookie season, from basketball development to handling the daily challenges of life in the NBA.
"I can be that veteran shoulder he can lean on every single day, whether it's frustration, the highs and lows, teaching him how to work every single day, weight room, whatever it is," Randle said. "Or if he just needs to talk about life, I want to be that vet for him and help him out."
The veteran forward also praised Brown's maturity.
"He's got a steady head on his shoulders," Randle said. "You can just tell he's a good kid who comes from a great family."
Brown showed why the Nets made him a lottery pick during his Las Vegas Summer League debut on Friday. The rookie scored 20 points, including 16 after halftime, while adding three assists, two steals and one block.
"I know how much work I put in to get to this point," Brown said. "I'm a savant when it comes to this stuff. I love the game of basketball. I love when my teammates look successful."
Second-year guard Egor Demin also praised Brown's offensive skill set. He highlighted his shot creation and feel for the game.
"He's extremely talented overall," Demin said. "His shooting ability, his ability to create his own shot, and how shifty he is, he's going to give a lot of trouble to defenders."
Randle said Brooklyn's young core is one of the reasons he embraced the move after spending last season with the Timberwolves. He believes his experience can help accelerate the development of players like Brown and Demin while establishing a winning culture.
"They're really excited to have me here," Randle said. "I get to come in and be a leader, show guys how to be a pro. We're coming in trying to win. It's as simple as that."
The 31-year-old sees similarities between Brooklyn's current situation and the New York Knicks team he joined in 2019 after consecutive losing seasons. He believes he is much better equipped to lead now than he was then.
For Brown, that means having a veteran who has experienced both rebuilding teams and playoff runs.
Randle hopes that perspective will help the rookie navigate the inevitable highs and lows of his first NBA season while laying the foundation for Brooklyn's next era.
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