In the history of the NBA, Kwame Brown may be one of the sport's greatest "What ifs?". What if Brown went to college instead of going pro out of high school? What if he had more time to mature instead of being badgered by Michael Jordan during Jordan's second NBA comeback? What if he was never sent to Memphis in the biggest trade farce in recent memory?
As a much-publicized gambler, Jordan rolled the dice on a 6'11 kid out of Georgia' Glynn Academy and took Kwame Brown with the #1 overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft, making Brown the first high schooler to ever go #1. As if the pressure of being a #1 overall pick and being touted as "The Next Kevin Garnett" wasn't bad enough, Brown was about to be saddled with the luxury of being teammates with one of the sport's fierciest competitors as well as one of its most impatient leaders. Brown struggled out of the gate in Washington, averaging 4.5 points and 3 rebounds, and constantly felt His Airness breathing down his neck. Year 2 saw some improvement, averaging 7 and 5. In his third season and first without Jordan on the roster, Brown had his best season as a pro(coincidence? I don't think so). Brown averaged nearly 11 points and 8 boards a game, and had a career night against Sacramento, going for 30 points and 19 rebounds.
However, as with many young kids with fame and fortune tossed their way early, Brown suffered from immaturity. He feuded with teammates(most notably Gilbert Arenas, who himself is a bit prickly to say the least), coaches and fans. After he rejected a 5-year, $30 million extension, Brown regressed in his fourth season, averaging just 7 points per game. Later that year, he was dealt to the Lakers for Caron Butler and Chucky Atkins where he would be now paired with Jordan's equally impatient clone, Kobe Bryant. Brown averaged 7 points and 6 boards with the Lakers, starting 49 games in place of injured fellow draft bust Chris Mihm. Playing time became a bit more scarce once the Lakers started working another high school lottery pick, center Andrew Bynum. In 2006, Bynum's second season and Brown's sixth, Brown played in just 41 games thanks to injury, averaging just over 8 points a game.
With Bynum coming along, Brown was becoming expendable in Laker Land and he was dealt to Memphis in one of the most lopsided trades in NBA history. The Lakers fleeced the Grizzlies, sending Brown, the retiring Aaron McKie, combo guard Javaris Crittendon, two first round picks and the draft rights to Marc Gasol to Memphis for Marc's All-Star brother, Pau. Pau's presence instantly made the Lakers a dynasty, as they now stand two wins away from making their third straight Finals appearence since acquiring Gasol(they went 1-1 in the previous two Finals). Brown, on the other hand, continued to flounder. In 15 games with the Grizz(starting only one), Brown average just over three points per game to go along with his five rebounds. The next season, Brown signed with Detroit, where he's played the last two seasons, never averaging more than four points per game.
Brown's a free agent now and, at 28, he may still be salvageable, but it's safe to say that all the "Next KG" hype has now dissipated. Brown will get league minimum money from somebody looking for a big body to sacrifice six fouls late in a game but, much like many from the '01 class, Brown was a huge and overwhelming bust.
So let's give it up for the kid who was supposed to be the next Big Ticket but turned into the next Pervis Ellison.......Kwame Brown, everybody!
Glad they got the first overall pic.... scared they are going to pick someone with-out any vowels in there name.
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