 Brown in 2008 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1969-10-14)October 14, 1969 (age 55) Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 239 lb (108 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Winnfield (Winnfield, Louisiana) |
| College | Louisiana Tech (1988–1992) |
| NBA draft | 1992: 2nd round, 29th overall pick |
| Selected by theNew Jersey Nets | |
| Playing career | 1992–2008 |
| Position | Center /power forward |
| Number | 42, 93 |
| Career history | |
| 1992–1993 | Panionios |
| 1993–1996 | New Jersey Nets |
| 1996–2000 | Miami Heat |
| 2000–2002 | Charlotte Hornets |
| 2002–2006 | New Orleans Hornets[a] |
| 2006–2007 | Chicago Bulls |
| 2008 | Boston Celtics |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| Career NBA statistics | |
| Points | 9,870 (9.1 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 8,409 (7.7 rpg) |
| Blocks | 1,116 (1.0 bpg) |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Collier "P. J."Brown Jr. (born October 14, 1969) is an American former professionalbasketball player who played in theNational Basketball Association (NBA). The 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m), 239 lb (108 kg)center/power forward was selected out ofLouisiana Tech University by theNew Jersey Nets with the 29th overall pick in the1992 NBA draft, but began his NBA career only in the1993–94 season. He was voted into theNBA All-Defensive Second Team three times, in1997,1999 and2001,[1] and won theNBA Sportsmanship Award in2004.[2] He attended Winnfield Senior High School inWinnfield, Louisiana, where he played for the Winnfield Tigers, and has played professionally for the Nets,Miami Heat,Charlotte Hornets,New Orleans Hornets,Chicago Bulls andBoston Celtics. Brown retired from the NBA after winning an NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008.
Brown played four years atLouisiana Tech and averaged 10.1points and 8.4rebounds per game in 121 contests. He left Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs' second all-time leader inblocks with 241, and fifth in rebounds with 1,017.
Brown was selected out ofLouisiana Tech University with the 29th overall pick in the second round of the1992 NBA draft by theNew Jersey Nets. However, he elected to play in the1992–93 HEBA A1 season in his first year out of college and averaged 17.0 points, 13.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game forPanionios B.C.
In his first three seasons in the NBA, from1993 to1996, he played in 240 regular season games for the Nets and increased his starts from 54 games in the 1994 season to 63 in the 1995 season before starting in all 81 games that he appeared in the 1996 campaign. The Nets made theplayoffs in 1994, and Brown appeared in four first round playoff games as New Jersey was eliminated by theNew York Knicks. That season also featured Brown participating in the1994 Rookie Challenge duringNBA All-Star Weekend.
In addition to increasing his playing time Brown also increased his scoring average each year, and in the 1996 season he would average a then career high 11.3 points with 6.9 rebounds a game. The Nets however did not reach the post-season in both his second and third year with the team. In the 1996 off-season he would sign as a free agent with theMiami Heat.[3]
Miami had made the playoffs the previous year led by all-star centerAlonzo Mourning, point guardTim Hardaway and head coachPat Riley, who decided to start Brown for 71 games in the1996–97 season. Brown increased his shooting percentage and rebounding, received theJ. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award and was named to theNBA All-Defensive Second Team as the Heat won a franchise best 61 games and the Atlantic Division Title. Brown's defense and rebounding helped the Heat advance in theplayoffs, as they defeated theOrlando Magic in the first round in 5 games andNew York Knicks in a grueling 7 games series. He came up big in the crucial games of the playoffs, scoring 12 points with 14 rebounds in the deciding game against Orlando and 18 points with 12 rebounds in a game 5 win at home against the Knicks. In that game, Brown was attempting to establish rebounding position with Knicks point guardCharlie Ward before lifting and flipping him onto a row of photographers along the baseline, leading to a brawl between the teams. This would result in Brown being suspended for the last two games of the series, along with players from the New York bench who intervened. Despite overcoming New York, the team could not overcome the defending championChicago Bulls, who defeated Miami in 5 games in the franchise's first trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. Brown averaged 9.2 points and 8.8 rebounds in the playoffs.
Starting in all 74 games in which he appeared, Brown posted nearly identical production in the1997–98 season as the Heat once again entered theplayoffs but came up short in a five-game first round loss againstNew York .
In the lockout shortened1998–99 season, Brown was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the second time in his career and averaged a career high 11.4 points a game. The Heat once again won the Atlantic Division but also were once again defeated in a stunning first round series in 5 games to the eighth-seededKnicks. Brown's role continued in the1999–2000 season, and the Heat would win in the first round against theDetroit Pistons before facing theKnicks for the fourth straight year. Once again, the Heat would fall to their New York rivals in another long and grueling 7-game series.
On August 1, 2000, Brown, alongsideJamal Mashburn,Otis Thorpe,Tim James andRodney Buford, was traded to theCharlotte Hornets in exchange forEddie Jones,Anthony Mason,Dale Ellis andRicky Davis.[4][5] In2000–01, his first season with the Hornets, Brown was selected to his thirdNBA All-Defensive Second Team. In2001–02, he was chosen as theCentral Division recipient of theNBA Sportsmanship Award. The Hornetsrelocated to New Orleans prior to the2002–03 season, where Brown had his best scoring seasons, averaging 10.6points per game in 240 regular season games from2002 to2005.
During the2002–03 season, he received the NBA Community Assist Award for the month of September and was again chosen as theCentral Division recipient of theNBA Sportsmanship Award, for the second consecutive time. In2003–04, he was yet again chosen as the Central Division NBA Sportsmanship Award recipient, for the third consecutive season, this time capturing the 2004 NBA Sportsmanship Award.
Prior to the2006–07 season, Brown had played in 999 regular season games, including 941 starts. By that time, he was one of 26 players inNBA history to have 8,000 points, 7,000 rebounds, 1,000 assists and 1,000 blocks.
On July 13, 2006, Brown was traded by theNew Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets along withJ. R. Smith to theChicago Bulls in exchange forTyson Chandler.[6] He played well as a veteran with the young team, starting the majority of his games, though he scored in meager proportions, and only averaged a career-low of 20.2 minutes per game.
After the2006–07 season, Brown did not re-sign with the Bulls and rejected offers from several teams interested in his services, citing he might have been done with his career.[citation needed] He went into semi-retirement while contemplating a possible return, lasting considerably into the2007–08 season.[7][8]
On February 27, 2008, after resting for most of the2007–08 season and weighing his options, Brown signed with theBoston Celtics for the remainder of the season, in order to bolster their front court.[9][8] His decision to come to Boston was strongly aided by a conversation with future teammatesRay Allen andPaul Pierce, who convinced him to sign with the Celtics during the2008NBA All-Star Weekend.[10] TheSan Antonio Spurs andNew Orleans Hornets were interested in his services, but he chose the Celtics instead.[11] He made his debut against theChicago Bulls, his former team, on March 7, 2008.
Brown had an unexpected breakout performance which took place in Game 7 of theEastern Conference Semifinals against theCleveland Cavaliers on May 18, 2008, when he scored 10points and pulled down 6rebounds, hitting all of his fourshots and making key contributions in the fourth quarter. He hit a key shot with less than two minutes left in the game as the Celtics went on to win the game 97–92.[12] After the game, he told reporters: "That shot, hey, probably I would say the biggest shot of my career".[13] He also had a strong performance in Game 1 of the2008 NBA Finals against theLos Angeles Lakers on June 5, 2008, playing increased minutes in the first Finals game of his 15-year career en route to a Celtics victory.[14] He retired at the end of that season with a championship.[15]
| GP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
| FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
| RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
| BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
| † | Won anNBA championship | * | Led the league |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993–94 | New Jersey | 79 | 54 | 24.7 | .415 | .167 | .757 | 6.2 | 1.2 | .9 | 1.2 | 5.7 |
| 1994–95 | New Jersey | 80 | 63 | 30.8 | .446 | .167 | .671 | 6.1 | 1.7 | .9 | 1.7 | 8.1 |
| 1995–96 | New Jersey | 81 | 81 | 36.3 | .444 | .200 | .770 | 6.9 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 11.3 |
| 1996–97 | Miami | 80 | 71 | 32.4 | .457 | .000 | .732 | 8.4 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 9.5 |
| 1997–98 | Miami | 74 | 74 | 31.9 | .471 | — | .766 | 8.6 | 1.4 | .9 | 1.3 | 9.6 |
| 1998–99 | Miami | 50* | 50* | 32.2 | .480 | — | .774 | 6.9 | 1.3 | .9 | 1.0 | 11.4 |
| 1999–2000 | Miami | 80 | 80 | 28.8 | .480 | .000 | .755 | 7.5 | 1.8 | .8 | .8 | 9.6 |
| 2000–01 | Charlotte | 80 | 79 | 35.1 | .444 | .000 | .852 | 9.3 | 1.6 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 8.5 |
| 2001–02 | Charlotte | 80 | 80 | 32.0 | .474 | — | .858 | 9.8 | 1.3 | .7 | 1.0 | 8.4 |
| 2002–03 | New Orleans | 78 | 78 | 33.4 | .531 | .000 | .836 | 9.0 | 1.9 | .9 | 1.0 | 10.7 |
| 2003–04 | New Orleans | 80 | 80 | 34.4 | .476 | .000 | .854 | 8.6 | 1.9 | 1.0 | .9 | 10.5 |
| 2004–05 | New Orleans | 82 | 78 | 34.4 | .446 | — | .864 | 9.0 | 2.2 | .9 | .6 | 10.8 |
| 2005–06 | New Orleans/OKC | 75 | 73 | 31.7 | .461 | — | .827 | 7.3 | 1.2 | .6 | .7 | 9.0 |
| 2006–07 | Chicago | 72 | 49 | 20.2 | .407 | .000 | .787 | 4.8 | .7 | .3 | .7 | 6.1 |
| 2007–08† | Boston | 18 | 0 | 11.6 | .341 | .000 | .688 | 3.8 | .6 | .3 | .4 | 2.2 |
| Career | 1,089 | 990 | 31.1 | .460 | .136 | .794 | 7.7 | 1.5 | .8 | 1.0 | 9.1 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | New Jersey | 4 | 1 | 14.0 | .222 | — | 1.000 | 2.0 | .8 | .0 | .5 | 3.0 |
| 1997 | Miami | 15 | 15 | 30.1 | .408 | — | .717 | 8.6 | .7 | .6 | 1.3 | 8.1 |
| 1998 | Miami | 5 | 5 | 38.0 | .514 | — | .364 | 8.8 | .8 | 1.4 | .6 | 9.2 |
| 1999 | Miami | 5 | 5 | 28.8 | .467 | .000 | .900 | 6.2 | 1.0 | .4 | .4 | 10.2 |
| 2000 | Miami | 10 | 10 | 30.8 | .427 | — | .833 | 8.2 | 1.1 | .8 | .4 | 7.5 |
| 2001 | Charlotte | 10 | 10 | 38.5 | .418 | — | .828 | 10.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 8.0 |
| 2002 | Charlotte | 9 | 9 | 36.8 | .427 | — | .757 | 9.6 | 1.6 | .7 | 1.3 | 10.2 |
| 2003 | New Orleans | 6 | 6 | 32.2 | .477 | — | .760 | 7.7 | 1.0 | 1.2 | .5 | 10.2 |
| 2004 | New Orleans | 7 | 7 | 36.6 | .366 | — | .909 | 9.7 | 2.1 | .4 | 1.6 | 8.9 |
| 2007 | Chicago | 10 | 10 | 22.8 | .493 | — | .739 | 4.7 | 1.2 | .8 | .2 | 8.3 |
| 2008† | Boston | 25 | 0 | 13.6 | .464 | .000 | .840 | 2.4 | .5 | .2 | .4 | 2.9 |
| Career | 106 | 78 | 27.2 | .434 | .000 | .751 | 6.6 | 1.0 | .6 | .8 | 7.1 | |
Brown and his wife have four children. His daughter,Kalani Brown, is a professional basketball player with theDallas Wings.[16] Brown's nickname "P.J." was given to him by his grandmother as a child, due to his affinity for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.[17] He was inducted into theLouisiana Tech University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998, the Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001, and theLouisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.[18]