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In the Brooklyn Nets' 114-104 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday, rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr. turned in the most impressive performance of his young NBA career. The No. 6 overall pick in the draft finished with a career-best 18 points on 6-of-11 shooting, adding two rebounds and four assists in 20 minutes of action.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez praised Brown's contribution to the victory. "[Mikel] was a big part of the win," Fernandez said. "Every time that they took a little bit of a lead, we responded. He was helping us push back, and he played composed. I know [he had] a couple of [late] turnovers, but I'm not concerned because I want him to go out there, play free, and be aggressive. I'm very happy with Mikel. Him [playing] in pick-and-roll, how fast he is, how shifty he is. He can shoot the three, get to the rim. Very, very happy with his performance."
Brown showcased his scoring versatility throughout the game, knocking down three of five three-point attempts—all off the dribble—and converting a pair of acrobatic and-one layups along with a mid-range jumper. His standout highlight came on a no-look pass to Moe Wagner off a baseline drive.
Despite the strong outing, Fernandez pulled Brown after two early turnovers in the fourth quarter. While Brown acknowledged it was his most complete game to date, he was quick to point out that he holds himself to a higher standard. "You could say [this was my best game so far]. I mean, it's just the expectation that I hold myself to," Brown said. "I should be [playing] like this. Obviously, down the stretch I had a couple of turnovers that I [need to] clean up. A miscommunication, me and Julius [Randle] talked about it. But I mean, this is the expectation. This is my standard that I'm supposed to be playing at. And I could do better than this."
Through his first six NBA appearances, Brown has averaged 12.0 points on .338/.297/.833 shooting splits, along with 4.0 assists and 2.2 turnovers per game. However, he has been limited to 22.8 minutes per game due to a restriction. His latest performance followed a 13-point, three-assist effort in the Nets' 103-90 loss to the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday.
Brown has seen a heavy dose of pick-and-roll ball-handling opportunities over Brooklyn's last two games. According to Synergy, he has averaged 1.06 points per possession and posted a 66.7 effective field goal percentage across 16 possessions as a pick-and-roll ball handler. "It's just understanding time and position when it comes to that stuff, who's got it going," Brown said of his pick-and-roll success. "Where the spots are that we can get to or where I can get to make a play, not just for myself, but for others. It's starting to just click, and I'm just being patient, moving on to the next play. This game is an imperfect game, so I'm just having that next-play mentality. I have great vets. They're just telling me to just keep that positive energy, keep that positive vibe."
The win improved the Nets' record to 2-6. They will begin a four-game road trip on Saturday against the Atlanta Hawks. Brown is active for that game, but he is likely to sit out the second leg of Brooklyn's back-to-back against the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, as he has not yet been cleared for back-to-backs.
Key Analysis
Brown's critical self-assessment underscores a mature mindset beyond his years. While his statistical line was impressive, his willingness to focus on turnovers and miscommunications signals a desire for growth that could accelerate his development. The Nets' cautious approach with his minutes and back-to-back restrictions suggests a long-term investment in his health and readiness. As Brown continues to acclimate to the NBA's pace and physicality, his pick-and-roll efficiency and scoring versatility offer promising glimpses of his potential.
Originally reported by yahoo.