Nets Rookie Mikel Brown Jr. Predicts Brooklyn Will Shock NBA

Brooklyn Nets rookie Mikel Brown Jr. believes his new team can surprise people this season, and he explained why during a recent appearance on the Pick a Side podcast.

Brown joined the show for an episode published Oct. 3, discussing his journey to the NBA, his recovery from a back injury at Louisville, and what he hopes to accomplish in Brooklyn. The conversation also touched on the players he studies, the veterans he looks forward to facing, and his expectations for the Nets this season.

One of the biggest challenges Brown discussed was dealing with the back injury that disrupted his lone season at Louisville. He explained how difficult it was mentally, especially when he started feeling better before the injury returned and became more serious.

Brown admitted that he tried to get back on the court too quickly during his time at Louisville. After the season ended, he decided to take a step back and focus on his recovery, going roughly two months without touching a basketball before preparing for the pre-draft process.

Sitting out was particularly difficult when Louisville reached the NCAA Tournament. Brown recalled watching his teammates compete while he was unable to help, a frustrating experience for a player who had worked so hard to reach that point.

He eventually returned to basketball during the pre-draft combine and individual workouts. Now with Brooklyn, he has the opportunity to put that difficult season behind him and begin his NBA career on a fresh note.

Brown also has some ambitious goals for his rookie season. He revealed that his father has set a high bar for him, including expectations of winning Rookie of the Year and earning a spot on the All-Rookie First Team.

Those individual honors would be nice, but Brown made it clear that winning is more important to him. He said he is willing to contribute in whatever way the Nets need, even on nights when he isn't scoring much.

He also likes what he has seen from Brooklyn's group so far. Brown said the players have spent time together during the offseason, working out and playing together, and he believes that time has helped them build a strong connection.

When discussing what the Nets could accomplish, Brown made a bold prediction, saying he believes they will “shock a lot of people” this season. He pointed to how the players compete against one another in practice while still supporting each other and trying to improve as a team.

Brown has also been putting work into the details of his game. On defense, he studies players such as Jrue Holiday, Lu Dort, Kawhi Leonard, Davion Mitchell, and Tony Allen. He looks at how they read opposing ball handlers, disrupt passing lanes, and force opponents to make uncomfortable decisions.

Offensively, Brown watches point guards including Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Rajon Rondo and Tyrese Haliburton. He has studied how they control the pace of a possession, keep their dribble alive, and read defenses out of pick-and-roll situations.

There are also a few familiar faces he is especially excited to see on the court this season. Brown named Damian Lillard and Donovan Mitchell, describing both as big-brother figures he can turn to for advice. Lillard has had a particularly big influence on him, as Brown wears No. 0 partly because of the veteran guard.

The podcast wasn't limited to basketball, either. Brown discussed his love for Michael Jackson, his favorite hip-hop artists, and his football fandom. Asked to name the greatest college football team ever, he backed LSU's 2019 national championship squad. He also talked about his connection to Louisville and some of the athletes he followed during his time there.

For Brown, the focus now shifts to making the most of his opportunity with Brooklyn. His college season didn't go as planned because of the injury, but he has spent time recovering and preparing for the next level. With high expectations for himself and confidence in his new teammates, he's ready to see what the Nets can accomplish in 2026-27.