New Jersey Nets (1993–1996) Brown was selected out of
Louisiana Tech University with the 29th overall pick in the second round of the
1992 NBA draft by the
New Jersey Nets. However, he elected to play in the
1992–93 HEBA A1 season in his first year out of college and averaged 17.0 points, 13.3 rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game for
Panionios B.C. In his first three seasons in the NBA, from
1993 to
1996, 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 the
playoffs in 1994, and Brown appeared in four first round playoff games as New Jersey was eliminated by the
New York Knicks. That season also featured Brown participating in the
1994 Rookie Challenge during
NBA 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 the
Miami Heat.
Miami Heat (1996–2000) Miami had made the playoffs the previous year led by all-star center
Alonzo Mourning, point guard
Tim Hardaway and head coach
Pat Riley, who decided to start Brown for 71 games in the
1996–97 season. Brown increased his shooting percentage and rebounding, received the
J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award and was named to the
NBA 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 the
playoffs, as they defeated the
Orlando Magic in the first round in 5 games and
New 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 guard
Charlie 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 champion
Chicago 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 the
1997–98 season as the Heat once again entered the
playoffs but came up short in a five-game first round loss against
New York . In the lockout shortened
1998–99 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-seeded
Knicks. Brown's role continued in the
1999–2000 season, and the Heat would win in the first round against the
Detroit Pistons before facing the
Knicks for the fourth straight year. Once again, the Heat would fall to their New York rivals in another long and grueling 7-game series.
Charlotte / New Orleans Hornets (2000–2006) On August 1, 2000, Brown, alongside
Jamal Mashburn,
Otis Thorpe,
Tim James and
Rodney Buford, was traded to the
Charlotte Hornets in exchange for
Eddie Jones,
Anthony Mason,
Dale Ellis and
Ricky Davis. In
2000–01, his first season with the Hornets, Brown was selected to his third
NBA All-Defensive Second Team. In
2001–02, he was chosen as the
Central Division recipient of the
NBA Sportsmanship Award. The Hornets
relocated to New Orleans prior to the
2002–03 season, where Brown had his best scoring seasons, averaging 10.6
points per game in 240 regular season games from
2002 to
2005. During the
2002–03 season, he received the NBA Community Assist Award for the month of September and was again chosen as the
Central Division recipient of the
NBA Sportsmanship Award, for the second consecutive time. In
2003–04, 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 the
2006–07 season, Brown had played in 999 regular season games, including 941 starts. By that time, he was one of 26 players in
NBA history to have 8,000 points, 7,000 rebounds, 1,000 assists and 1,000 blocks.
Chicago Bulls (2006–2007) On July 13, 2006, Brown was traded by the
New Orleans/Oklahoma City Hornets along with
J. R. Smith to the
Chicago Bulls in exchange for
Tyson Chandler. 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.
Retirement thoughts After the
2006–07 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. He went into semi-retirement while contemplating a possible return, lasting considerably into the
2007–08 season. His decision to come to Boston was strongly aided by a conversation with future teammates
Ray Allen and
Paul Pierce, who convinced him to sign with the Celtics during the
2008 NBA All-Star Weekend. The
San Antonio Spurs and
New Orleans Hornets were interested in his services, but he chose the Celtics instead. He made his debut against the
Chicago Bulls, his former team, on March 7, 2008. Brown had an unexpected breakout performance which took place in Game 7 of the
Eastern Conference Semifinals against the
Cleveland Cavaliers on May 18, 2008, when he scored 10
points and pulled down 6
rebounds, hitting all of his four
shots 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. After the game, he told reporters: "That shot, hey, probably I would say the biggest shot of my career". He also had a strong performance in Game 1 of the
2008 NBA Finals against the
Los 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. He retired at the end of that season with a championship. ==NBA career statistics==