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 Brown with theDetroit Pistons in 2009 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | (1982-03-10)March 10, 1982 (age 43) |
| Listed height | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) |
| Listed weight | 290 lb (132 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school | Glynn Academy (Brunswick, Georgia) |
| NBA draft | 2001: 1st round,1st overall pick |
| Drafted by | Washington Wizards |
| Playing career | 2001–2013 |
| Position | Power forward /center |
| Number | 5, 54, 38 |
| Career history | |
| 2001–2005 | Washington Wizards |
| 2005–2008 | Los Angeles Lakers |
| 2008 | Memphis Grizzlies |
| 2008–2010 | Detroit Pistons |
| 2010–2011 | Charlotte Bobcats |
| 2011–2012 | Golden State Warriors |
| 2012–2013 | Philadelphia 76ers |
| Career highlights | |
| |
| Career statistics | |
| Points | 4,035 (6.6 ppg) |
| Rebounds | 3,333 (5.5 rpg) |
| Assists | 554 (0.9 apg) |
Stats at NBA.com  | |
| Stats atBasketball Reference | |
Kwame Hasani Brown (born March 10, 1982) is an American former professionalbasketball player who spent 12 seasons in theNational Basketball Association (NBA).[2] Selectedfirst overall by theWashington Wizards in the2001 NBA draft, Brown was the first player to be drafted number one overall straight out of high school.[3][4] He later played for theLos Angeles Lakers,Memphis Grizzlies,Detroit Pistons,Charlotte Bobcats,Golden State Warriors, andPhiladelphia 76ers.[5][6]
Brown was consistently rated as the "best high school player" in his class, which also included high school standoutsEddy Curry andTyson Chandler. He was the high school player of the year as a senior inGeorgia.
Brown finished his high school career at the historicGlynn Academy (inBrunswick, Georgia) as the school's all-time leading rebounder (1,235) and shot-blocker (605), and also finished second all-time as a scorer (1,539 points). He was named to the2001 McDonald's All-American Team.
Brown's senior averages were 20.1 points, 13.3 rebounds, 5.8 blocks, 3 assists and 2 steals per game.[7] While Brown was a senior, Glynn Academy produced a 24–7 record and reached the GHSA semifinals.[8]
Originally signing a letter of intent to play for theUniversity of Florida, he later declared for the2001 NBA draft. TheWashington Wizards, under team presidentMichael Jordan, used their first overall pick on him. Following a pre-draft workout with the Wizards, it has been reported that Brown told then-Wizards coachDoug Collins, "If you draft me, you'll never regret it."[9]
Perhaps as a result of hype and high expectations, Brown's rookie season was marred by a lack of maturity and production on the court.[10] In his rookie year, Brown averaged 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game.[11]
However, the Wizards believed in Brown's potential.[citation needed] In his second season as a professional, Brown saw more action in the league. He started 20 out of the 80 games he played and the total minutes he played doubled.
Brown improved his numbers, posting averages of 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. In his third season, Brown continued to improve, posting career highs in both points (10.9) and rebounds (7.4). In a game against theSacramento Kings, he registered 30 points and 19 rebounds.[12]
After his first three years in Washington, Brown rejected a five-year, $30 million contract offer, electing instead to test the free agent market when his contract expired after the season.[13] In his fourth season, Brown was limited to 42 games due to injuries. His highest-scoring game of the season was 19 points,[14] compared to his season-high of 30 the year before, and he averaged 7.0 points per game.[15] Late in the season, criticism increased; he feuded withGilbert Arenas, other teammates, and his coachEddie Jordan.
On August 2, 2005, Brown andLaron Profit were traded to the Lakers in exchange forCaron Butler andChucky Atkins.[16] This move was met with some controversy from fans who disliked Brown's reputation and his label as an "under-achiever." In the beginning of the season, he averaged just above 6 points and 6 rebounds.
On December 26, 2005, he played his first game at the Washington Wizards' MCI Center (now known asCapital One Arena) as a Laker. The sold-out crowd of 20,173 fans loudly booed him upon entering the game and whenever he touched the ball. In the second quarter, Brown was looking the other way when teammateSasha Vujačić threw a pass his way. The ball bounced off his head and landed out of bounds, which was met with loud cheers from the crowd.[17] Brown called the reception "weak" and stated that "they should be cheering that I'm gone."[17] The Wizards won the game 94–91.
When Lakers centerChris Mihm went down with a season-ending ankle injury on March 12, 2006, Brown took over the starting center position. During his stint as a center, he raised his averages from 6.1 points and 6.3 rebounds to 12.3 points and 9.1 rebounds and started every game for the Lakers in the playoffs. Brown became a central part of the Lakers seven-game series with thePhoenix Suns. Although they ended up losing the series, it had appeared that Kwame Brown's potential was beginning to show.
The surprising consistency Brown showed while playing center prompted Phil Jackson to make Brown the starting center in the 2006–07 season. Brown was injured at the beginning of the season and Mihm was also out with injury for the whole season, so the starting job at center was given to the youngAndrew Bynum. After playing the majority of the minutes at center despite the bench role, he was given the starting job in early December.
Brown again became injured in the 2007–08 season which allowed Bynum to start again at the center position where he flourished. However, when Bynum suffered a knee injury that appeared to jeopardize the Lakers' playoff chances, Brown regained his starting position.
On February 1, 2008, Brown was traded along withJavaris Crittenton,Aaron McKie, the draft rights toMarc Gasol, and the Lakers'2008 and2010 first-round draft picks forPau Gasol and a second-round pick in 2010.[18] On July 1, 2008, the Memphis Grizzlies chose not to sign Brown to a new contract, making him an unrestricted free agent.[citation needed]
On July 28, 2008,ESPN.com reported that thePistons signed Brown to a two-year deal worth $8 million, with the second year a player option.[19]
On August 23, 2010, Brown signed a one-year deal with theBobcats.[20]
On December 14, 2011, Brown signed a one-year, $7 million contract with theWarriors.[21]
On March 13, 2012, Brown, along withMonta Ellis andEkpe Udoh, was traded to theMilwaukee Bucks in exchange forAndrew Bogut andStephen Jackson. Brown never played for the Bucks during the season.[22][23]
On July 20, 2012, Brown signed a two-year contract for nearly $6 million with thePhiladelphia 76ers.[24] After sustaining a right hamstring strain in September 2013,[25] Brown was waived by the 76ers on November 20 before appearing in a game for them in the2013–14 season.[26]
In 2017, Brown was the fifth overall pick in the inaugural draft of theBIG3 basketball league. In BIG3 Brown played for the 3 Headed Monsters, who made it to the finals and ended up losing to Trilogy 51–46.[27][28]
In 2021, Brown created numerous YouTube videos critiquing the assertion that he was a 'bust" as a first round draft pick, claiming that mainstream U.S. sports media unfairly targeted him for over twenty years, as well as negatively depicting black men, in general.[29] The videos were created in response to negative comments about Brown's career from former NBA playersMatt Barnes andStephen Jackson on a May 2021 episode of their podcastAll the Smoke.[30][31][32][33][34] Brown's response has led to a significant increase of social media attention, especially via YouTube and Instagram.[35][36][37]
Brown's cousinJabari Smith also played in the NBA.[38] Smith's son,Jabari Smith Jr., also became an NBA player.
In 2002, Brown's hometown girlfriend, Joselyn Vaughn, moved into his Virginia home.[39] Together they had three daughters. In 2019, Brown sued forcustody of the children.[40]
In August 2003, Brown was arrested and charged withdriving while intoxicated near his hometown of Brunswick.[41] In October 2007, Brown was arrested in Georgia and charged withdisorderly conduct and interference with a law enforcement officer after an incident in which the driver of a car in which he was a passenger was arrested for driving drunk with a suspended license.[42]
Brown was arrested on March 31, 2019, by Georgia police and charged with felony possession of edible marijuana products and misdemeanor possession of less than one ounce of marijuana.[43]
| 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 |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Washington | 57 | 3 | 14.3 | .387 | .000 | .707 | 3.5 | .8 | .3 | .5 | 4.5 |
| 2002–03 | Washington | 80 | 20 | 22.2 | .446 | .000 | .668 | 5.3 | .7 | .6 | 1.0 | 7.4 |
| 2003–04 | Washington | 74 | 57 | 30.3 | .489 | .500 | .683 | 7.4 | 1.5 | .9 | .7 | 10.9 |
| 2004–05 | Washington | 42 | 14 | 21.6 | .460 | .000 | .574 | 4.9 | .9 | .6 | .4 | 7.0 |
| 2005–06 | L.A. Lakers | 72 | 49 | 27.5 | .526 | .000 | .545 | 6.6 | 1.0 | .4 | .6 | 7.4 |
| 2006–07 | L.A. Lakers | 41 | 28 | 27.6 | .591 | .000 | .440 | 6.0 | 1.8 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 8.4 |
| 2007–08 | L.A. Lakers | 23 | 14 | 22.1 | .515 | .000 | .406 | 5.7 | 1.2 | .7 | .8 | 5.7 |
| 2007–08 | Memphis | 15 | 1 | 13.6 | .487 | .000 | .412 | 3.8 | 1.1 | .4 | .3 | 3.5 |
| 2008–09 | Detroit | 58 | 30 | 17.2 | .533 | .000 | .516 | 5.0 | .6 | .4 | .4 | 4.2 |
| 2009–10 | Detroit | 48 | 1 | 13.8 | .500 | .000 | .337 | 3.7 | .5 | .3 | .3 | 3.3 |
| 2010–11 | Charlotte | 66 | 50 | 26.0 | .517 | .000 | .589 | 6.8 | .7 | .4 | .6 | 7.9 |
| 2011–12 | Golden State | 9 | 3 | 20.8 | .525 | .000 | .441 | 6.3 | .4 | .9 | .0 | 6.3 |
| 2012–13 | Philadelphia | 22 | 11 | 12.2 | .459 | .000 | .368 | 3.4 | .4 | .3 | .5 | 1.9 |
| Career | 607 | 281 | 22.1 | .492 | .111 | .570 | 5.5 | .9 | .5 | .6 | 6.6 | |
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Washington | 3 | 0 | 20.0 | .385 | .000 | .556 | 5.0 | 1.0 | .0 | .7 | 5.0 |
| 2006 | L.A. Lakers | 7 | 7 | 32.1 | .523 | .000 | .710 | 6.6 | 1.0 | .3 | .9 | 12.9 |
| 2007 | L.A. Lakers | 5 | 5 | 26.6 | .528 | .000 | .556 | 5.6 | .2 | .2 | .8 | 8.6 |
| 2009 | Detroit | 3 | 0 | 16.0 | .375 | .000 | .750 | 5.0 | .0 | .0 | 1.0 | 3.0 |
| Career | 18 | 12 | 25.9 | .500 | .000 | .660 | 5.8 | .6 | .2 | .8 | 8.7 | |
· Basketball Reference
