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Louisville Freshman Mikel Brown Jr. Declares for 2026 NBA Draft

NBA teams will scrutinize his back as they assess a likely lottery grade.

Overview

  • Brown, who disclosed his decision Tuesday on Instagram and to ESPN, entered the 2026 NBA draft.
  • A recurring lower-back strain sidelined him for 14 games and kept him out of the ACC and NCAA tournaments.
  • The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 18.2 points with 4.7 assists in 21 games and set the ACC freshman single-game mark with 45 points on Feb. 9.
  • By leaving after one season, he becomes Louisville’s first one-and-done player.
  • Mock drafts place him in the top 10, and Brown says his back strain is improving with plans to work out for teams before the May lottery and the late-June draft.