After a year full of scandals and disappointment, the Jordan Brown era at Memphis is officially over. His agent posted this graphic to Instagram saying Jordan Brown entered the NBA draft in late June. Unsurprisingly, the post showcases Brown in his University of Louisiana threads, not the University of Memphis where he last played.
Brown as a Prospect
Many Tiger fans may see Brown entering the draft as a joke, but before his time in Memphis, the 6’11 big man was a force for the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns. In his true senior year in Lafayette, Brown amassed:
- 19.3 PPG
- 8.6 RPG
- 1.2 BPG
- 57.1 FG%
- 2022-23 Lou Henson Award Winner (awarded to the nation’s best mid-major player)
- 2022-23 Sun Belt First Team
- 2022-23 Sun Belt Tournament MVP
Our Chris Latham wrote about Brown in January: “Jordan Brown’s return undoubtedly brings a unique set of skills to the court, particularly as a dominant post scorer. His offensive capabilities have the potential to elevate the team’s ceiling and provide a much-needed boost.“
Positives
- Elite scoring back to the basket with an array of post moves – finishes with touch and ambidexterity
- Ran the floor well and had a high motor at UL
- Defensive versatility and switchability
- Uses pump fakes, head fakes, and off-hand fakes to get defenders in the air – leads to drawn fouls
Negatives
- Numerous concerns about character and love for the game
- Has never improved as a shooter – 61% FT shooter – 0.3 3PA per game
- Turnover prone – 2.3 and 2.8 TO per game in his two best years
- Conditioning concerns – hasn’t played more than 21 minutes in a game in 18+ months
- Doesn’t create for those around him – less than one career assist per game
Projection
With the disastrous season Brown had at Memphis, don’t expect him to hear his name called on draft night. I expect him to have an opportunity as an undrafted free agent in the summer league. If Brown does indeed love basketball, he has a real shot at making a G League roster.
Many may scoff at the idea of Brown as a professional player, but he has legitimate NBA upside if he can return to form. Although he may have had a disastrous season, it doesn’t change the fact that Brown donned the Tiger blue.
