Photo by: Mallory Peak | Louisville Athletics
Mikel Brown Jr. Selected Sixth Overall by Brooklyn Nets in 2026 NBA Draft
June 23, 2026 | Men's Basketball
Brown is Louisville’s highest draft pick since Felton Spencer was selected sixth overall in 1990; Brown is the Cardinals’ first first round pick since Donovan Mitchell in 2017
NEW YORK – University of Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. has been selected in the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft by the Brooklyn Nets with the sixth overall pick. He is Louisville's highest draft pick since Felton Spencer was selected sixth overall in 1990, 36 years ago.
Brown is Louisville's first first round draft pick since Donovan Mitchell was selected 13th overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2017. Brown now joins an elite club of 13 Cardinals selected in the top 10 of the NBA Draft.
Louisville has produced 26 first-round NBA Draft picks, including 13 in the top 10 and six among the top three picks (Pervis Ellison first in 1989; Wes Unseld second in 1968; Darrell Griffith second in 1980; Charlie Tyra second in 1957; Rodney McCray third in 1983; George Hauptfuhrer third in 1948).
Louisville has had 78 NBA Draft picks overall in the program's history, with 20 players playing in the NBA in the last 11 years.
Brown averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in 21 contests for the Cards, earning Third Team All-ACC and All-Rookie Team honors. Brown recorded nine 20-point games, the most by any Louisville freshman in a single season in program history. He led Louisville in scoring on nine occasions and led the Cardinals in assists in 16 of his 21 appearances.
The 6-5 guard was named the National AP Player of the Week, Naismith Trophy Player of the Week and ACC Player and Rookie of the Week in mid-February for his stellar performances against NC State and Baylor. Against the Wolfpack, the freshman tied the Louisville single-game scoring record at 45 points and broke the ACC Freshman single-game scoring record.
The Orlando, Fla., native is the only freshman in at least the last 30 years to have 45 points, nine boards and three steals in the same game. He is the only player in DI since at least 2010-11 to record at least 45 points, nine rebounds, two assists and three steals in 34 minutes or less.
Brown is Louisville's first first round draft pick since Donovan Mitchell was selected 13th overall by the Denver Nuggets in 2017. Brown now joins an elite club of 13 Cardinals selected in the top 10 of the NBA Draft.
Louisville has produced 26 first-round NBA Draft picks, including 13 in the top 10 and six among the top three picks (Pervis Ellison first in 1989; Wes Unseld second in 1968; Darrell Griffith second in 1980; Charlie Tyra second in 1957; Rodney McCray third in 1983; George Hauptfuhrer third in 1948).
Louisville has had 78 NBA Draft picks overall in the program's history, with 20 players playing in the NBA in the last 11 years.
Brown averaged 18.2 points, 4.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game in 21 contests for the Cards, earning Third Team All-ACC and All-Rookie Team honors. Brown recorded nine 20-point games, the most by any Louisville freshman in a single season in program history. He led Louisville in scoring on nine occasions and led the Cardinals in assists in 16 of his 21 appearances.
The 6-5 guard was named the National AP Player of the Week, Naismith Trophy Player of the Week and ACC Player and Rookie of the Week in mid-February for his stellar performances against NC State and Baylor. Against the Wolfpack, the freshman tied the Louisville single-game scoring record at 45 points and broke the ACC Freshman single-game scoring record.
The Orlando, Fla., native is the only freshman in at least the last 30 years to have 45 points, nine boards and three steals in the same game. He is the only player in DI since at least 2010-11 to record at least 45 points, nine rebounds, two assists and three steals in 34 minutes or less.
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