P.J. Brown

Defensive stalwart and NBA champion who brought grit and leadership to every team he played for.

P. J. Brown is an American former professional basketball player who played in the NBA. He was selected by the New Jersey Nets with the 29th overall pick in the 1992 NBA draft and began his NBA career in the 1993–94 season. He played for the Nets, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets, New Orleans Hornets, Chicago Bulls, and Boston Celtics, retiring after winning an NBA championship with the Celtics in 2008.

Quick Facts

Born: 14 October 1969
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
College: Louisiana Tech (1988–1992)
Draft pick: 29
Draft round: 2
Drafted by: New Jersey Nets
Career position: Center; power forward
Career number: 42, 93

Lore & Background

Brown was voted into the NBA All-Defensive Second Team three times (1997, 1999, 2001) and won the NBA Sportsmanship Award in 2004. He attended Winnfield Senior High School in Winnfield, Louisiana, and played college basketball at Louisiana Tech University, where he averaged 10.1 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. He left Louisiana Tech as the Bulldogs' second all-time leader in blocks (241) and fifth in rebounds (1,017).

Reader's Guide

Brown played four years at Louisiana Tech and was drafted by the New Jersey Nets in 1992 but played the 1992–93 season in Greece for Panionios B.C. He played for the Nets from 1993 to 1996, then signed with the Miami Heat as a free agent in 1996. He was traded to the Charlotte Hornets in 2000, moved with the team to New Orleans, and later played for the Chicago Bulls and Boston Celtics. He retired after the 2007–08 season.

Did You Know?

Brown's nickname 'P.J.' was given to him by his grandmother because of his love for peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
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.
His daughter, Kalani Brown, is a professional basketball player with the Phoenix Mercury.
Brown hit what he called 'the biggest shot of my career' in Game 7 of the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Cleveland Cavaliers.