Bleacher Report made a bold prediction for Mikel Brown Jr.’s rookie season, and it’s one that could become reality if the Nets guard can clean up one area of his game. There are a few rookies who could challenge him, but Brown may have the right situation to pull it off.
The Brooklyn Nets could have one of the more intriguing rookie point guards in the NBA this season, and Bleacher Report believes Mikel Brown Jr. could make his mark in an area that would show just how much he has developed.
In a recent article highlighting a bold prediction for every NBA team’s best new weapon, Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley identified Brown as Brooklyn’s new weapon and predicted that the No. 6 overall pick will lead rookie rotation regulars in assist-to-turnover ratio.
It’s a pretty bold prediction considering Brown’s numbers as a playmaker so far, but it’s not hard to see how he could get there.
Brown is at his best when he is making things happen with the ball in his hands. He sees passing lanes that aren't always there for other players and isn't afraid to try something difficult. The downside is that those plays can also lead to turnovers, especially when he tries to force something.
At Louisville, Brown averaged 4.7 assists and 3.1 turnovers per game. He was at 4.0 assists and 2.7 turnovers during summer league.
So, there is obviously room for improvement.
That's also why the prediction is interesting. Brown doesn't need to completely change the way he plays. He just needs to become a little more selective about when he takes those chances.
And the Nets could give him a good opportunity to do that.
Brown won't be asked to carry Brooklyn's offense by himself. Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. give the Nets two established scorers who can create their own shots and take some of that pressure off the rookie.
That could make a difference for Brown.
Instead of feeling like he has to make a play on every possession, he should have more freedom to pick his spots, get the ball to Brooklyn's best scorers, and take advantage of the opportunities that come his way.
There are a couple of other rookies who could make this prediction tough for Brown, though.
Daryn Peterson of the Utah Jazz and Darius Acuff Jr. of the Sacramento Kings are two players who could challenge him for the top spot. Both are expected to have significant offensive responsibilities as rookies, which should give them plenty of chances to rack up assists.
The tradeoff is that higher usage can also mean more turnovers.
Brown could have an advantage there simply because of the talent around him. If Randle and Porter are handling a good portion of the scoring load, Brown can focus more on running the offense and finding those players rather than having to create something out of nothing.
Of course, leading all rookie rotation players in assist-to-turnover ratio would still be an impressive accomplishment.
Brown has to show that he can keep the creativity that makes him so fun to watch while cutting down on some of the mistakes that come with his aggressive style.
That's probably the biggest thing to watch for with him this season.
His passing ability has never really been the question. The next step is figuring out how to consistently make the right decision, especially as the game speeds up and he faces NBA defenses every night.
If Brown can make that adjustment, Bleacher Report's prediction doesn't feel all that far-fetched.
It would be a pretty significant jump from his college and summer league numbers, but the Nets' roster could give him the type of situation where that improvement is possible. And if he does end up leading his rookie class in assist-to-turnover ratio, it would be a pretty good indication that Brown is already starting to figure out how to run an NBA offense.
