NBA Draft 2026: Windhorst on the Nets: “Brown? A franchise-defining pick”
The Brooklyn Nets’ decision to draft Mikel Brown Jr. over Darius Acuff Jr. could become one of the defining moments of the 2026 NBA Draft, according to Brian Windhorst
The opening phase of the 2026 NBA Draft unfolded largely as expected, with AJ Dybantsa, Darryn Peterson, Cameron Boozer, and Caleb Wilson coming off the board with the first four selections.
The action picked up immediately afterward, particularly among guards. The Los Angeles Clippers selected Keaton Wagler at No. 5, the Brooklyn Nets took Mikel Brown Jr. at No. 6, the Sacramento Kings chose Darius Acuff Jr. at No. 7, and the Atlanta Hawks completed the run on backcourt prospects by drafting Kingston Flemings with the eighth overall pick.
The order of those selections quickly became one of the biggest talking points among NBA analysts.
Speaking on SportsCenter after the draft, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst identified the Nets’ decision to select Brown over the explosive Acuff as one of the defining choices that could shape the long-term legacy of this draft class led by AJ Dybantsa.
We’ll remember this night based on how these franchises did with these guards. The turning point came with the sixth pick and the Brooklyn Nets. They could have taken Mikel Brown out of Louisville, they could have drafted Acuff, or they could have traded down. They chose Brown. That specific decision – Brown or Acuff – I truly believe will become one of the defining legacies of this draft
Brian Windhorst
Why the Nets chose Brown over Acuff Jr.
The decision reflects the different roster needs and player evaluations of the front offices involved. The Nets favored Brown’s superior size, with the 6-foot-5 guard averaging 18.2 points and 4.7 assists last season at Louisville, while shooting 41% from the field and 34.4% from three-point range.
Although a back injury limited him to just 21 NCAA appearances, Brown showcased elite scoring ability, highlighted by a stretch of 103 total points over three consecutive games in February, including a career-high 45-point performance against NC State.
On the other side, Sacramento landed Acuff, who is coming off a highly productive season at Arkansas, where he averaged 23.5 points per game while shooting 48.4% from the field and 44% from beyond the arc, in addition to 6.4 assists.
Despite his offensive firepower, scouting reports continue to raise significant concerns about his defensive consistency.
Among the prospects who slid slightly behind the two guards was Kingston Flemings, the Houston point guard whose all-around skill set wasn’t enough to leapfrog Brown and Acuff on draft boards. Meanwhile, the Milwaukee Bucks used the No. 10 pick to select Brayden Burries, whom several analysts consider one of the potential value steals of the first round.