Former NBA'er Mike Brown now NBDL Coach
NBDL News / Sept 16, 2004
GREENVILLE, S.C. – Mike Brown, a veteran of 11 NBA seasons
as
a player and two seasons as an assistant coach in the NBA’s National
Basketball Development League, has been named head coach of the
Fayetteville Patriots. Brown replaces Jeff Capel, who recently took a
position as an assistant coach for the Charlotte Bobcats.
Brown has been an assistant to Dazzle head coach Kent Davison the last
two
years, and the two led Roanoke to an NBDL postseason berth in 2002-03.
His
first coaching work came as an assistant for the ABA’s Las Vegas Slam
during the 2001-02 season.
“This is a super opportunity to have the chance to be the head coach of
the
Fayetteville Patriots,” Brown said. “I learned an awful lot working with
(Roanoke head coach) Kent Davison for the last two seasons and I am
looking
forward to putting together a competitive team in Fayetteville.”
Brown, a Newark, N.J. native, played in 626 NBA games for the Chicago
Bulls, Utah Jazz, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers and Phoenix
Suns from 1986-87 through 1996-97, primarily as a backup known for his
professional smarts and blue-collar work ethic.
"Mike was a long-time NBA player who could be characterized as a winner,
possessing a very strong work ethic. He has exhibited those same
qualities
as an assistant in the NBDL,” NBA Senior Vice President of Basketball
Operations Stu Jackson said. “He will undoubtedly be a great asset as
head
coach for the Fayetteville Patriots, their fans and the community as a
whole."
Brown, 39, who averaged 5.0 points and 4.4 rebounds in his NBA career,
was
a third-round pick in the 1985 NBA Draft (69th overall) by the Bulls.
Brown
went from Scott High School in East Orange, N.J. to star collegiately at
George Washington, where he ranks second in career scoring (1,916) and
rebounding (1,066) and completed his degree in criminal justice in
three-and-a-half years.
“We are very fortunate to have Mike Brown as the head coach of the
Fayetteville Patriots,” NBDL director of basketball operations Chris
Alpert
said. “His experience as an NBA player, as well as his experience as an
assistant coach in our league, will serve him well in his new position.”
Known for his rebounding and defensive ability in the low post, Brown
began
his pro career in Milan, Italy in 1985-86 for Aurora Desio, before
reaching
the NBA the following season with Chicago. He spent two years as a
Chicago
backup, then was selected by Charlotte Hornets in the 1988 NBA Expansion
Draft, but was dealt by the Hornets later on draft day to Utah for
forward
Kelly Tripucka.
Brown played every regular-season game for Utah in four of his five
seasons
with the Jazz (1988-89 through 1992-93), where he was a teammate of
Columbus Riverdragons head coach Jeff Malone. In 1991-92, Brown had his
best offensive regular season, averaging 7.7 points for a Utah club that
reached the Western Conference Finals.
Brown, who made 112 NBA regular-season starts and played in 44 NBA
playoff
games, was dealt in June 1993 to Minnesota for center Felton Spencer,
then
spent two seasons with the Timberwolves before finishing his NBA career
with the 76ers and Suns and shuttling between Europe and the NBA. He
played
in Italy for most of three seasons, then finished his playing career in
Spain from 1998-99 through 2000-01.
As a collegiate player, he led the Atlantic 10 Conference in rebounding
three straight seasons (1982-83 through 1984-85) and was a three-time
All-Atlantic 10 selection. Brown is a 1994 inductee of the GW Athletic
Hall
of Fame, and was named to the Colonials’ All-Century Basketball Team,
which
also includes NBA coaching legend Red Auerbach.
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