The X-Factor for the Brooklyn Nets in 2026

0 Share Newsweek is a Trust Project member See more of our trusted coverage when you search. Prefer Newsweek on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search. As the warm months enter their final stretch, the excitement of basketball is in the air. Both college and the pros are already getting ready for a new season, and for fans, it can't come soon enough.

The Brooklyn Nets have a lot of young talent to sort through, but their biggest X-factor this season could be the player they hope becomes the long-term answer at point guard.

Brooklyn selected Brown with the No. 6 pick after slipping a few spots in the draft lottery, and the decision immediately became one of the biggest talking points surrounding the franchise. The Nets had the chance to go in several directions, but they believed Brown's combination of shooting ability and confidence with the ball was worth betting on.

Now comes the hard part. But it's nothing to sweat over.

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Brown dealt with back injuries during his freshman season at Louisville, which limited his time on the court and raised some questions about his transition to the NBA . But when healthy, the talent is obvious. He has the kind of offensive creativity and perimeter shooting that can completely change the way a team plays.

The Nets are hoping he can become the guard who separates this young group from simply being a collection of prospects.

Brooklyn already has several young guards on the roster after selecting four in last year's first round. Brown will have to prove he can stand out from that group and show why the organization believed he was the right choice.

If he does, the Nets could have a major building block.

Brooklyn also added Joshua Jefferson late in the first round and Tyler Bilodeau in the second, giving the team more young players to develop. Jefferson, in particular, brings experience after spending four years in college and could provide a more immediate contribution.

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The bigger question for the Nets remains the frontcourt.

The team still has some questions about its long-term identity inside. But finding a potential star guard could make those concerns easier to solve.

For Brooklyn, this season is about finding out what it has. Brown doesn't need to be perfect right away. He just needs to show a few reasons why the Nets believed in him.

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