#MarkelFreed? Brooklyn Nets rookie Markel Brown will make the first start of his career Monday night against the Denver Nuggets, replacing the injured Bojan Bogdanovic. Bogdanovic sprained his ankle during practice Sunday afternoon and was listed as doubtful before being ruled out officially by the team Monday morning.
.@iMarkelBrown22 on starting tonight: "Gives me a lot of confidence. Happy to be in this position to perform." #Nets pic.twitter.com/Erag8eslaI
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) February 23, 2015
Brown, he of the 44″ vertical leap, could inject much-needed athleticism into the team’s starting lineup, but has yet to produce with little playing time. He’s played in just 18 of a possible 53 games, averaging 2.6 points in just 6.1 minutes per game, shooting 36.8 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from deep. But he did put down the first dunk of his NBA career Friday night:
Brown will start next to Deron Williams, Alan Anderson, Joe Johnson, and Mason Plumlee, with the Nets sticking out a four-wide lineup. That look (with Bogdanovic instead of Brown) was a +17 with either Plumlee or Lopez at the center spot against the Lakers Friday night.
