Last Updated on January 20, 2025 by Mathew Diekhake
Lawrence Harvey Brown, commonly known as Larry Brown, is an American basketball coach and former player renowned for his extensive and successful career in both collegiate and professional basketball. Here’s an overview of his background and career:
- Full Name: Lawrence Harvey Brown
- Nationality: American
- Date of Birth: September 14, 1940
- Hometown: Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Height: 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm)
- Weight: 160 pounds (73 kg)
- Wingspan: 5 feet 10 inches
- Shoe Size: Size 9 (US)
- Jersey Number: 11 (New Orleans Buccaneers), 11 (Oakland Oaks), 11 (Washington Capitols), 11 (Virginia Squires), 11 (Denver Rockets)
- Position: Point Guard (as a player); Head Coach
- High School: Long Beach High School, Long Beach, New York
- College: University of North Carolina
- NBA Draft: Undrafted in the NBA; played in the American Basketball Association (ABA)
- Teams Played For:
- New Orleans Buccaneers (1967–1968)
- Oakland Oaks (1968–1969)
- Washington Caps (1969–1970)
- Virginia Squires (1970–1971)
- Denver Rockets (1971–1972)
- Championship Rings:
- As a player: ABA Championship with Oakland Oaks (1969)
- As a coach: NCAA Championship with University of Kansas (1988); NBA Championship with Detroit Pistons (2004)
- Children: Three children: L.J., Madison, and Kristen
- Siblings: Older brother, Herbert Brown, who has also been an NBA head coach
Career Highlights:
- Playing Career:
- Represented the USA in basketball at the 1961 Maccabiah Games in Israel, winning a gold medal.
- Played in the ABA, earning three All-Star selections.
- Coaching Career:
- Only coach in basketball history to win both an NCAA Championship (University of Kansas, 1988) and an NBA Championship (Detroit Pistons, 2004).
- Inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002.
- Served as head coach for multiple NBA teams, including the Denver Nuggets, New Jersey Nets, San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and Charlotte Bobcats.
- Coached collegiate teams such as UCLA and SMU, leading them to significant improvements and tournament appearances.
Larry Brown’s legacy is marked by his adaptability and success across various levels of basketball, earning him recognition as one of the most accomplished coaches in the sport’s history.