Kendall Brown (basketball)

Last updated

Kendall Brown
No. 10Brooklyn Nets
Position Small forward / shooting guard
League NBA
Personal information
Born (2003-05-11) May 11, 2003 (age 21)
Cottage Grove, Minnesota, U.S.
Listed height6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Listed weight205 lb (93 kg)
Career information
High school
College Baylor (2021–2022)
NBA draft 2022: 2nd round, 48th overall pick
Selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves
Playing career2022–present
Career history
20222024 Indiana Pacers
20222024 Fort Wayne / Indiana Mad Ants
2024–2025 Long Island Nets
2025–present Brooklyn Nets
2025–present→Long Island Nets
Career highlights and awards
Stats at NBA.com  OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg
Stats at Basketball Reference   OOjs UI icon edit-ltr-progressive.svg

Kendall Thomas Brown (born May 11, 2003) is an American professional basketball player for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA), on a two-way contract with the Long Island Nets of the NBA G League. He played college basketball for the Baylor Bears. He was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the best small forwards in the 2021 class.

Contents

High school career

As a sophomore at East Ridge High School in Woodbury, Minnesota, Brown averaged 17.6 points and led the team to its first state tournament appearance. After the season, he transferred to Sunrise Christian Academy in Bel Aire, Kansas. [1] Brown was teammates with top recruit Kennedy Chandler. As a senior, he helped his team reach the GEICO Nationals title game. [2] He was named to the McDonald's All-American Game, Jordan Brand Classic and Nike Hoop Summit rosters. [3] [4]

Recruiting

Brown was a consensus five-star recruit and one of the best small forwards in the 2021 class. On July 20, 2020, he committed to playing college basketball for Baylor over offers from Kansas and Arizona, among others. [5] Brown is the highest-ranked recruit to come to Baylor since Isaiah Austin in 2012. [6] He said that since he came from a Christian high school, he liked the fact that Baylor was a Christian university. [7]

College recruiting information
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Kendall Brown
SF
Cottage Grove, MN Sunrise Christian Academy (KS)6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)205 lb (93 kg)Jul 20, 2020 
Star ratings: Rivals: 5 stars.svg     247Sports: 5 stars.svg     ESPN: 5 stars.svg    ESPN grade: 92
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 11   247Sports: 17   ESPN: 17
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "Baylor 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  • "2021 Baylor Bears Recruiting Class". ESPN.com. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  • "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved September 22, 2021.

College career

Prior to his freshman season, Brown was voted Preseason Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year. [8] In his college debut, Brown scored 13 points in a 87–60 victory over Incarnate Word. He earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Week honors twice (December 20 and March 7). [9] As a freshman, Brown averaged 9.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. At the end of the season, he was named to the Big 12 All-Freshman Team. [10] On March 30, 2022, Brown declared for the 2022 NBA draft, forgoing his remaining college eligibility. [11]

Professional career

Indiana Pacers (2022–2024)

Brown was selected with the 48th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by his hometown team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. On June 23, 2022, the Timberwolves traded his draft rights to the Indiana Pacers in exchange for cash considerations and a 2026 second-round pick. [12] On September 16, Brown signed a two-way contract with the Pacers. [13] On February 27, 2023, he underwent surgery to address a tibia stress fracture in his right leg and was ruled out indefinitely by the Pacers. [14]

On July 25, 2023, Brown signed another two-way contract with the Pacers [15] and on March 4, 2024, he signed a multi-year contract. [16] On October 15, 2024, he was waived. [17]

Brooklyn / Long Island Nets (2024–present)

On October 27, 2024, Brown joined the Long Island Nets, [18] and on February 25, 2025, he signed a two-way contract with the Brooklyn Nets. [19]

Career statistics

Legend
  GPGames 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

NBA

Regular season

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2022–23 Indiana 606.7.571.000.5001.0.5.7.01.5
2023–24 Indiana 1504.2.533.000.625.3.3.0.01.4
Career2104.9.545.000.600.5.4.2.01.4

Playoffs

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2024 Indiana 703.5.333.4.3.0.1.6
Career703.5.333.4.3.0.1.6

College

YearTeamGPGSMPGFG%3P%FT%RPGAPGSPGBPGPPG
2021–22 Baylor 343427.0.584.341.6894.91.91.0.49.7

Personal life

Brown's father, Courtney Sr., played professional basketball in South America, Switzerland and England, and was a member of the Harlem Globetrotters, before becoming a public school intervention specialist. [20] His older brother, Courtney Jr., plays college basketball for St. Thomas (MN). [21]

References

  1. Paulsen, Jim (July 21, 2019). "Kendall Brown leaving East Ridge for prep school in Kansas". Star Tribune . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  2. Eldridge, Taylor (April 3, 2021). "'The little engine that could': Sunrise proves it belongs with national hoops powers". The Wichita Eagle . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  3. Fuller, Marcus (June 9, 2020). "Five-star homegrown hoops talent Kendall Brown on young athletes giving back: "We have to use the platform we have."". Star Tribune . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  4. James, Ryan (May 5, 2020). "Kendall Brown had a 5-Star Season at Sunrise Christian". 247Sports . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  5. Bedore, Gary (July 20, 2020). "Kendall Brown, No. 12-ranked player in Class of 2021, picks Baylor over KU, others". The Kansas City Star . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  6. Borzello, Jeff; Biancardi, Paul (July 20, 2020). "5-star player Brown of Kansas commits to Baylor". ESPN.com.
  7. Jordan, Jason (July 20, 2020). "Elite 2021 Wing Kendall Brown Commits to Baylor". SI All-American.
  8. "Big 12 Unveils 2021-22 Men's Basketball Preseason Awards". big12sports.com. October 13, 2021. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  9. "MBB Pair Pick up Big 12 Weekly Awards". March 7, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  10. "Men's Basketball All-Big 12 Awards Announced" (PDF). March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  11. "Baylor guard Kendall Brown, potential first-round pick, declares for NBA Draft". theathletic.com. March 30, 2022. Retrieved March 30, 2022.
  12. Nardinger, Taylor (June 24, 2022). "Timberwolves Acquire Future Pick and Cash Considerations from Indiana". NBA.com. Retrieved June 27, 2022.
  13. "Pacers Announce Signings". NBA.com. September 16, 2022. Retrieved September 16, 2022.
  14. "Kendall Brown Medical Update - Feb. 27, 2023". NBA.com. February 27, 2023. Retrieved March 16, 2023.
  15. "Pacers Sign Kendall Brown to Two-Way Contract". NBA.com. July 25, 2023. Retrieved July 26, 2023.
  16. "Indiana Pacers Sign Kendall Brown". NBA.com. March 4, 2024. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  17. "Pacers Roster Transactions". NBA.com. October 15, 2024. Retrieved October 15, 2024.
  18. Long Island Nets [@LongIslandNets] (October 27, 2024). "Our official training camp roster 🔥 #StrongIsland 💪" (Tweet). Retrieved October 28, 2024 via Twitter.
  19. "Nets Signing Kendall Brown To Two-Way Contract". Yardbarker. February 25, 2025. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  20. McDonald, Mitchell Palmer (August 24, 2016). "Sons following in their dad's footsteps". Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder . Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  21. "Q&A: Ex-East Ridge wing Courtney Brown Jr. on transferring to St. Thomas". March 30, 2021. Retrieved June 24, 2021.