Mikel Brown Jr. is ready to make his mark in Brooklyn, and he’s bringing lessons from one of the NBA’s smartest point guards with him. The Nets rookie opened up about Rajon Rondo’s mentorship and what fans can expect from his game.
Mikel Brown Jr. is only beginning his NBA career, but the Brooklyn Nets rookie has already spent years learning from some of the smartest guards to ever play the game.
Brown recently joined Vince Carter and Tracy McGrady on Cousins, where he opened up about his journey to the NBA, his time at Louisville, his recovery from a back injury, and what Nets fans can expect from him moving forward.
One of the most interesting parts of the conversation centered around Rajon Rondo, who Brown had the opportunity to learn from during his lone college season.
Brown said Rondo was one of the guards he studied growing up, along with Steve Nash and Chris Paul. Rather than trying to copy one player completely, he took different pieces from each of them.
Nash's ability to manipulate defenses in the pick-and-roll stood out to him. From Paul, Brown admired the toughness and defensive intensity. Rondo, meanwhile, caught his attention because of his basketball IQ and ability to make winning plays when the moment demanded it.
That admiration eventually turned into a real mentorship.
While at Louisville, Brown spent time at Rondo's home watching film and even playing chess. The conversations weren't about making the game more complicated. If anything, Rondo encouraged Brown to simplify it.
“You don't need to overcomplicate it. You're extremely talented. Just keep it simple,” Rondo told him, according to Brown.
That advice appeared to resonate with Brown.
After returning from his back injury in January, he put together a strong stretch in which his production picked up, and Louisville continued winning. Brown credited the lessons he received from Rondo for helping him settle back into his game.
The Nets will now get to see how those lessons translate to the NBA.
Brown was also asked directly what he wants Brooklyn fans to understand about his game. His answer went beyond scoring.
The Nets' No. 6 overall pick emphasized his impact on winning, saying he isn't focused solely on filling up the box score. Whether he's scoring, creating for teammates or taking on a leadership role, Brown believes his versatility allows him to contribute in whatever way is necessary.
“I'm all about winning,” Brown said.
He went on to explain that he has played virtually every role throughout his career, from being the primary scorer to serving as a playmaker or simply doing whatever his team needed.
That same mentality carries over to the defensive end.
Brown pushed back against some of the criticism he received about his defense during the draft process, particularly from people who he believes focused too heavily on statistics instead of watching the film.
For Brown, defending the ball and making an impact that doesn't always show up in the box score are important parts of his game.
“At the end of the day, it's about plus-minus with me. If I'm on the court, are we in a plus? Are we winning the margins?” Brown said.
That mentality should make him an intriguing player to watch in Brooklyn.
Brown's path to the NBA wasn't completely straightforward. He dealt with a significant back injury at Louisville and had to learn that rushing his recovery wasn't going to help him. He said the experience taught him the importance of patience, preparation, and staying on top of his body even when he feels healthy.
Now, with that chapter behind him, Brown is preparing for the next one.
He described hearing his name called on draft night as a surreal experience. The anxiety of not knowing where he would land disappeared once the Nets selected him, allowing him to finally celebrate with his family and friends before turning his attention toward the work ahead.
There is plenty Brown still has to prove, but his approach already seems clear.
He's not entering the NBA trying to be Steve Nash, Chris Paul or Rajon Rondo. Instead, he's taking pieces from all of them and trying to build his own game.
For a Nets team looking to develop a young core, having a rookie who is already thinking about the game that way could be just as valuable as what he does on the stat sheet.
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