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Mikel Brown’s healthy but knows ‘it’s all about getting stronger’ for Nets
The Nets say rookie guard Mikel Brown Jr.’s back and ankle are healthy, and his restricted playing time is intended to help him build strength over the season. The cautious approach matters to fans wary after Ben Simmons’ injury troubles, while the team sees Brown as a major part of its future.
Brown, who missed time at Louisville with a soft-tissue back injury, is not yet cleared to play both games of a back-to-back and will sit out Sunday in Dallas. He averaged 12 points and four assists before Saturday, when he scored 18 in a 124-121 loss to Atlanta; he has averaged 14.5 points across his past four games. Coach Jordi Fernández and teammate Terance Mann praised his speed, shooting and pick-and-roll play, while Brown said he is following the team’s strength and film-work plan.
In short
- The Nets say Brown’s back and ankle are healthy.
- His minutes are managed while he builds strength.
- He scored 18 points against Atlanta on Saturday.
Explained simply
Mikel Brown Jr. is a rookie guard for the Brooklyn Nets, a professional basketball team in the NBA. Guards handle much of a team’s movement and passing on court, and Brown is seen as part of the Nets’ plans for the future.
Before joining Brooklyn, Brown played college basketball at Louisville, where a soft-tissue back injury kept him out for a period. The Nets are managing his workload as he builds strength, a familiar concern for supporters after former Net Ben Simmons had repeated injury problems.