Mikel Brown Jr. is eager to hit the court, but he may need to be a bit more patient. As a rookie, he represents a significant part of Brooklyn’s rebuilding efforts.
This is why his recovery process is crucial—rushing it isn’t an option.
After rolling his left ankle last week, Brown has started to practice again, albeit in a limited capacity. However, as of Thursday, he still hasn’t been cleared for any physical contact.
“Right now, they’re just telling me I can start moving a bit more; it’s all about strengthening it back up,” Brown shared. “I’m back on the court moving, and honestly, that’s my main focus at the moment. Just taking it one step at a time.”
The Nets’ training staff hasn’t specified what the next stages of his rehab will entail. While patience isn’t exactly his forte, Brown is trying to embrace it. “I feel like I have no choice but to be patient,” he said, forcing a small smile. “I want to be out there so badly, but they’ve stressed the importance of taking our time to ensure I’m back at 100 percent. I just want to attack this rehab and focus on what I can control.”
The Nets kick off their preseason on Tuesday in Charlotte, yet there’s no word yet on the extent of Brown’s injury or when he might return. They have three additional preseason games lined up before their regular-season opener against the Hornets on October 21. When asked about his expectations for getting some game time in the preseason, Brown seemed uncertain.
“That’s really up to the performance staff,” he remarked. “For now, I’m just doing everything I can to get back on the court.”
In other camp news, Michael Porter Jr. highlighted Keon Ellis as a standout performer since training began. “Keon has been playing really well these first few days. He has a great defensive mindset, shoots effectively, and overall has been very solid,” Porter noted.
Porter and Julius Randle have been kept on different ends of the camp floor, as Coach Jordi Fernández has been managing player rotations actively. On Thursday, they didn’t train together and had a non-contact practice to help rest their legs ahead of a more intense session on Friday.
“When you’re fatigued, it’s easy to lose focus. So, having a non-contact day like today, where we can delve into film and possibly add new strategies, is valuable,” Fernández explained. “It was a productive session that acted as active recovery, while still progressing. Players are looking forward to tomorrow since they love to compete.”
