Mikel Brown Jr. mock draft: Final prediction for Louisville star on draft day

Follow along for live rumors and news from around the league on NBA draft day.

It's almost time for Mikel Brown Jr. to learn where he'll begin his professional career. The 2026 NBA Draft begins on Tuesday night and Louisville fans will be paying close attention.

Following the NBA draft combine and weeks of pre-draft workouts , front offices will finalize their decisions this evening. After extensive conversations with folks around the league, we have more intel on when each prospect might hear their name called during draft nights at Barclays Center for the first round on June 23 and and the second on June 24.

Our mock draft includes data from CBB Analytics . We also spoke with P3 , a sports science and athletic training company that uses biomechanical data and movement profiling to evaluate players and project NBA outcomes, to better understand how certain prospects translate physically to the next level.

While news of two big trades broke late night on Monday, June 22 - one involving Giannis Antetokounmpo and the other involving Julius Randle - neither can be executed until July 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET, which is the start of the new league year. So, those 2026 picks remain with their current teams in our mock draft, although those teams will be selecting players on behalf of their trade partners.

Following conversations with decision-makers around the league and other trusted reporting, here are our latest prediction for the Brooklyn Nets.

Mikel Brown Jr. 2026 NBA Draft prediction: Pick No. 6 overall, Brooklyn Nets

Kalbrosky's Analysis:

During this rebuilding chapter, the Nets would love to add a player like talented Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr., even though they drafted three point guards last season. He said he met with the Nets three times during the pre-draft process and completed a second workout for Brooklyn, a person with knowledge of the situation confirmed to USA TODAY Sports. The person requested anonymity because they were unauthorized to speak publicly on the matter. Brown's draft stock has improved during the pre-draft process as he has shown teams a clean bill of health. 'I got cleared by the medical staff from the league at the Combine, so we're all green,” Brown Jr. told USA TODAY Sports. 'I feel like myself again.” The All-ACC guard has deep shooting range and was averaging 29.2 points per game over his last five appearances, including a 45-point outing against NC State, before his injury on Feb. 28 forced him to miss March Madness.

See USA TODAY's final, two-round mock draft here

Mikel Brown Jr. player profile

• Position: Guard
• Previous Team: Louisville
• 18.2 points per game
• 3.3 rebounds per game
• 4.7 assists per game
• 41.0 field goal percentage
• 34.4 three-point field goal percentage

2026 Brooklyn Nets mock draft roundup

• April 6: Darryn Peterson
• April 13: Darryn Peterson
• April 28: Caleb Wilson
• May 8: Caleb Wilson
• May 10: Keaton Wagler
• May 19: Keaton Wagler
• May 28: Keaton Wagler
• June 8: Mikel Brown Jr.
• June 15:Mikel Brown Jr. / Ryan Conwell / Jack Kayil

Slashes indicate multiple first round selections

2026 NBA Draft first round order

1. Washington Wizards
2. Utah Jazz
3. Memphis Grizzlies
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Los Angeles Clippers (via IND)
6. Brooklyn Nets
7. Sacramento Kings
8. Atlanta Hawks (via NOP)
9. Dallas Mavericks
10. Milwaukee Bucks
11. Golden State Warriors
12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via LAC)
13. Milwaukee Bucks (via MIA)
14. Charlotte Hornets
15. Chicago Bulls (via POR)
16. Memphis Grizzlies (via PHX)
17. Oklahoma City Thunder (via PHI)
18. Charlotte Hornets (via ORL)
19. Toronto Raptors
20. San Antonio Spurs (via ATL)
21. Detroit Pistons (via MIN)
22. Philadelphia 76ers (via HOU)
23. Atlanta Hawks (via CLE)
24. New York Knicks
25. Los Angeles Lakers
26. Denver Nuggets
27. Boston Celtics
28. Brooklyn Nets (via DET)
29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via SAS)
30. Dallas Mavericks (via OKC)