P.J. Brown

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Lore & Background

Brown played four years at Louisiana Tech, averaging 10.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He left as the Bulldogs' second all-time leader in blocks (241) and fifth in rebounds (1,017). He was inducted into the Louisiana Tech University Athletic Hall of Fame in 1998, the Louisiana Basketball Hall of Fame in 2001, and the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame in 2016.

In Their Own Story

The 1997–98 season saw Brown start all 74 games he appeared in, posting nearly identical production to the previous year as the Heat reached the playoffs again, only to suffer a five-game first-round loss to New York. The following lockout-shortened 1998–99 season marked another high point for Brown's individual accolades; he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team for the second time in his career and averaged a then-career-high 11.4 points per game. Miami once again won the Atlantic Division but faced a stunning first-round exit, losing 5 games to the eighth-seeded Knicks. Brown's role remained critical through the 1999–2000 season, where the Heat defeated the Detroit Pistons in the first round before facing their New York rivals for the fourth consecutive year. The series was another long and grueling battle that ended with Miami falling to the Knicks in seven games. Throughout these years, Brown's physical presence and defensive versatility were central to Pat Riley's system, even as playoff aspirations repeatedly hit a wall against the Knicks or Bulls.

Reader's Guide

Brown's NBA career began with the New Jersey Nets (1993–1996), where he increased his scoring average each year, peaking at 11.3 points and 6.9 rebounds in the 1996 season. He signed with the Miami Heat in 1996, starting 71 games in 1996–97, receiving the J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award and being named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team. The Heat won the Atlantic Division Title and reached the Eastern Conference Finals, losing to the Chicago Bulls in five games. In 1997–98, he started all 74 games he appeared in. In the lockout-shortened 1998–99 season, he was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team again and averaged a career-high 11.4 points; the Heat again won the Atlantic Division but lost in the first round to the Knicks. In 1999–2000, the Heat won in the first round against the Pistons but lost to the Knicks in seven games. On August 1, 2000, Brown was traded to the Charlotte Hornets. In 2000–01, he 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; from 2002 to 2005, he averaged 10.6 points per game. He received the NBA Community Assist Award in September 2002 and was again chosen as the Central Division recipient of the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2002–03 and 2003–04, winning the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2004. Prior to the 2006–07 season, he had played in 999 regular season games (941 starts). On July 13, 2006, he was traded to the Chicago Bulls. After the 2006–07 season, he did not re-sign and went into semi-retirement. On February 27, 2008, he signed with the Boston Celtics, debuting on March 7, 2008. He had a key performance in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers, scoring 10 points and 6 rebounds. He played in Game 1 of the 2008 NBA Finals and retired after winning the championship.

Did You Know?

• Brown's nickname 'P.J.' was given to him by his grandmother due to his love of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
• He was one of 26 players in NBA history to have 8,000 points, 7,000 rebounds, 1,000 assists, and 1,000 blocks.
• His daughter, Kalani Brown, is a professional basketball player with the Phoenix Mercury.