John Brown

John Edward Brown III (born January 28, 1992) is an American professional basketball player for Pallacanestro Brescia of the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA). He played college basketball for the High Point Panthers and was a two-time winner of the Big South Player of the Year in 2014 and 2016. Since graduating college, he has played in France, Italy, Russia and Australia.

Early life Brown was born in Jacksonville, Florida. He grew up very poor in government housing in Jacksonville, moving through various one-bedroom apartments with his mother, his grandmother and his little brother. As a junior in high school, his mother gave birth to his younger brother, Ja'Ron. He subsequently became a stand-in father for his brother. He had been diagnosed with a learning disability while at First Coast High and was considered an academic non-entity for his first three years of high school.

While at Arlington in 2009–10, Brown played for the basketball team and was named the Florida 1A Player of the Year after averaging 17.9 points, 12.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game, leading his team in all three categories. He was also a first-team All-State and Jacksonville Times-Union All-First Coast team. The team finished with a 23–6 record and won the Florida Class 1A title game.

As a sophomore in 2013–14, Brown was named the Big South Conference Player of the Year. He started all 31 of HPU's games while averaging 19.5 points and 7.7 rebounds. That same month, he tied his career high of 34 points. He also reached 2,000 career points in January 2016. He injured his foot during the 2016 Big South Conference tournament and missed the Portsmouth Invitational.

Professional career Due to the injury suffered at the end of his senior year, Brown was only able to participant in three workouts during the last week of the NBA predraft workouts.

On August 12, 2016, Brown signed with Virtus Roma of Italy's Serie A2. In 34 games during the 2016–17 season, he averaged 19.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game.

On July 28, 2017, Brown signed with Universo Treviso Basket of the Serie A2. In 39 games during the 2017–18 season, he averaged 16.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.4 steals per game. In 33 games during the 2018–19 season, he averaged 14.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. In 21 league games, he averaged 11.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He also averaged 11.6 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.5 steals in 13 BCL games. In 31 league games, he averaged 9.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.2 steals per game. He also averaged 10.8 points, 6.3 rebounds, 1.2 assists and 1.9 steals in 24 EuroCup games.

On June 28, 2021, Brown re-signed with UNICS Kazan on a two-year deal. In February 2022, he set a EuroLeague record for total steals in a single season, reaching 66 steals to surpass Manu Ginóbili's record from 2001. Later that month, he exercised his right to leave the country following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

On April 11, 2022, Brown signed with Pallacanestro Brescia of the Italian LBA. In seven games to finish the 2021–22 season, he averaged 9.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.1 steals per game.

On May 26, 2022, Brown signed a three-year deal with AS Monaco Basket of the French LNB Pro A. On July 11, 2023, he opted into the second year of his deal with the club. He was named LNB Pro A Best Defender for the 2023–24 season. In the 2023–24 EuroLeague, Brown led the competition in charges drawn and ranked in the top three for forced turnovers. He was the only big man among the league's top 10 players in steals and charges. He averaged 6.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 1.1 steals, and an 8.4 PIR in 25 minutes per game.

Following the 2023–24 season, Brown became a free agent after parting ways with Monaco due to a shoulder injury that ruled him out until January 2025. On December 9, 2024, he signed with Crvena zvezda of the Serbian league on a 1+1 contract. Crvena zvezda won the 2025 Serbian Cup, but Brown did not participate as he was not registered as one of the four foreign Cup players. After declining a team option, Crvena zvezda parted ways Brown on July 17, 2025.

On August 14, 2025, Brown signed with the South East Melbourne Phoenix of the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) for the 2025–26 season. He was named NBL Best Defensive Player and All-NBL First Team.

On February 5, 2026, Brown signed with Santeros de Aguada of the Baloncesto Superior Nacional (BSN). He averaged 12.8 points and 7.4 rebounds during the 2026 BSN season.

On June 12, 2026, Brown signed with Pallacanestro Brescia of the LBA, returning to the team for a second stint.

Career statistics

EuroLeague Led the league

EuroCup

Basketball Champions League

Domestic leagues Year Team League

College

Personal life Brown was very close to his mother and grandmother, both of whom died during Brown's college career at High Point. He has one older brother, Javon, and one younger brother, Ja'Ron.