Kwame Brown

Kwame James Brown ( born March 10, 1982 in Charleston, South Carolina ) is an American professional basketball player.

He currently plays in the NBA at the center position for the Philadelphia 76ers. He was selected in 2001 as number one in the so-called NBA Draft directly out of high school by the team of the Washington Wizards, where he was active from 2001 to August 2005. Brown is 2.11 meters tall and weighs currently about 122 kilograms.

High School Career

Brown was elected in his senior year at Glynn Academy in Georgia for High School Player of the Year and was appointed to the National All-American team. He holds the records of his school for most rebounds and blocked shots, and collected the second- most points.

NBA career

Washington Wizards

After the Washington Wizards had surprisingly Brown obliged with their No. 1 Draftlos directly out of high school, weighed an enormous pressure of expectations on the young players. Brown was the first player in NBA history, was selected directly from a high school as the No. 1 in the draft, without ever having played at a college. This then still managed two other players ( LeBron James and Dwight Howard), before 2005 the rules were changed, from when a player is eligible to play for the NBA. Former basketball superstar Michael Jordan was President of the Washington Wizards and after a comeback from 2001 to 2003 even his teammate. He therefore had a great influence on this controversial decision, thus increasing public expectation to Brown and the team.

In Brown's first year in the NBA (so-called rookie ) from 2001 to 2002, he played mostly on the position of power forward, fell short of general expectations, scoring only 4.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per game, which in particular of the media has been heavily criticized. In his second season, he could easily be increased to at least 7.4 points and 5.3 rebounds per game in 20 games and was in the starting line (called initiators). In its third year, Brown reach a further slight improvement 10.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game and he played in 57 games as a starter. In a game against the Sacramento Kings, he scored even his previous career record of 30 points and 12 rebounds. Nevertheless, the Wizards for the NBA finals series ( playoffs ) could never qualify in these years.

After his original contract threatened to leak, Brown rejected an early contract extension for a further five years for about $ 30 million with the Washington Wizards. In his fourth season 2004-2005 he was often injured, played by only about half of the season, scoring only 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He also became increasingly disputes with other players (especially the new star of the team Gilbert Arenas ) and his coach, making him increasingly unpopular with the press and fans. This season, the Wizards finally reached the playoffs again, but she dropped out in the second round against the Miami Heat, and Brown played by a fine imposed by the disciplinary team only slightly.

Los Angeles Lakers

On August 2, 2005 Kwame Brown moved along with Laron Profit from Washington in exchange for Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins to the West Coast to the Los Angeles Lakers (so-called trade). At the start of the new season, he also showed there continues to be a rather poor performance, scoring only 6 points and 6 rebounds per game. Also, the first away game against his former team, he lost, and was thereby booed as expected by the fans. After the actual center of the LA Lakers Chris Mihm had seriously injured in March 2006, Brown became the new top player on the position and improved his game statistics in the sequence significantly. Los Angeles reached the playoffs in 2006, where he started in all seven games in a competitive series against the Phoenix Suns, while 90 points and 46 rebounds ( the Lakers eliminated from yet ). In the season 2006 - 2007 Brown played again at the center position in the starting line-up, but fell out due to injury for a few games. Nevertheless, he stabilized his ratio further to more than 8 points and 6 rebounds per game, and scored the best cut on blocked litters in his NBA career. The Los Angeles Lakers reached the playoffs again, and met again in the first round to the Phoenix Suns. When only victory in this game series Brown scored his season high of 19 points, but the Lakers retired after five games with 1 to 4 against the time clearly superior from Sun.

Memphis Grizzlies

On 1 February 2008, he was traded along with Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie and for Pau Gasol to the Grizzlies.

Detroit Pistons

On July 28, 2008 ESPN.com reported that the Detroit Pistons Brown have given a two year contract over 8 million U.S. dollars. The second year is a player option.

Charlotte Bobcats

On 23 August 2010 it was announced that Brown has agreed with the Bobcats to a one - year contract. His annual salary is 1.3 million U.S. dollars.

Golden State Warriors

After the end of the Lock -outs at the beginning of the season Brown signed a contract with the Golden State Warriors for one year.

Milwaukee Bucks

March 2012, Brown was traded along with Monta Ellis of the Warriors to the Milwaukee Bucks.

Philadelphia 76ers

After his contract expired at the Bucks, Brown signed a contract for two years 76ers in Philadelphia. Over the two years its content is a total of 6 million U.S. dollars.