Markel Brown always seemed like an afterthought during the first half of the season. After being selected 44th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft, the rookie barely sniffed the hardwood, playing only 110 minutes in Brooklyn's first 53 games. Brown was all but forgotten.
That all changed on February 23. Needing some life, some athleticism, a boost, Lionel Hollins inserted Brown into the starting lineup for the first time in the rookie's career. Playing against the Denver Nuggets, Brown scored 10 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, thus recording his first career double-double, and blocked four shots in 45 minutes of play.