Sterling Brown

Sterling Damarco Brown (born February 10, 1995) is an American professional basketball player for Žalgiris Kaunas of the Lithuanian Basketball League (LKL) and the EuroLeague. He played college basketball for Southern Methodist University (SMU) from 2013 to 2017. As a senior, he earned second-team all-conference honors in the American Athletic Conference (AAC). Brown was drafted 46th overall in the 2017 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers.

High school and college career

Brown is the son of Chris Brown who was a police officer in the Chicago metropolitan area for 30 years in Maywood, Illinois. Brown played high school basketball at Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois. Playing for coach Donnie Boyce, he led the Pirates to a state runner-up finish in 2012 and a state semi-final appearance in 2013, losing both times to the Jabari Parker-led Simeon Career Academy. As a junior, the Chicago Tribune named him to the 2012 third team All-state team along with Billy Garrett Jr., Milton Doyle, Tony Hicks and Rashaun Stimage. The Associated Press named him to its 2013 Class 4A All-state first team along with Parker, Jahlil Okafor, Hill, and Cliff Alexander. He finished the year as the sixth rated national class of 2013 recruit in Illinois at number 75 according to Rivals.com. Brown ultimately selected SMU and coach Larry Brown over Miami, Tennessee and Xavier.

Brown and the Mustang class of 2017 endured three years of adversity as they missed the NCAA tournament in his freshman season. The following season, they were upset in the first round of the Tournament. In his junior year, SMU served an NCAA probation in 2015–16. In his senior season, Brown averaged 13.4 points and 6.5 rebounds per game. Along with Semi Ojeleye he led the Mustangs to a 30–5 record and regular-season and Tournament American Athletic Conference championships. At the close of the season, Brown was named second-team All-conference. Brown finished his Mustang career as the school's all-time leader in wins. Brown was drafted in the second round with the 46th pick of the 2017 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. On July 6, 2017, his draft rights were traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for cash considerations. Brown appeared in his first NBA game on October 20, 2017, against the Cleveland Cavaliers, posting three points in six minutes in Milwaukee's second game of the season. On November 3, 2018, Brown was assigned to the Wisconsin Herd. In his first game of the 2018–19 season, he scored 22 points on 10-of-17 from the field. When Malcolm Brogdon was unavailable on January 20, 2018, against Philadelphia, Brown started and scored 14 points. He posted a season-high 15 points on March 7, against the Houston Rockets.

On January 26, 2018, Brown was tased and arrested inappropriately according to the Milwaukee Police Department Police Chief Alfonso Morales the following May. Brown brought suit in June 2018 after the May release of bodycam footage and alleges racial profiling occurred in the administration of a parking ticket at a Walgreens parking lot. After the incident an investigation was launched which resulted in 8 officers disciplined, with 3 of them suspended and 1 officer terminated. Brown's attorney, Mark Thomsen, condemned the settlement offer, saying it was the city's attempt to save face instead of admitting wrongdoing. As of November 27, 2019, court filings indicate that a federal civil rights lawsuit is proceeding to trial.

On March 31, 2019, Brown posted a career-high 27 points, including a go-ahead layup with 1.1 seconds remaining in overtime against the Atlanta Hawks.

Houston Rockets (2020–2021) On November 26, 2020, Brown signed with the Houston Rockets.

On April 18, 2021, Brown suffered serious facial injuries during a fight outside of a Miami night club.

Dallas Mavericks (2021–2022) Brown signed with the Dallas Mavericks on August 10, 2021. He made his debut on October 21, 2021, in an 87–113 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, scoring three points.

On June 24, 2022, Brown was traded alongside Boban Marjanović, Trey Burke, Marquese Chriss, and the draft rights to Wendell Moore Jr., to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Christian Wood.

On September 30, 2022, Brown was traded, along with David Nwaba, Trey Burke, and Marquese Chriss, to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Derrick Favors, Ty Jerome, Maurice Harkless, Théo Maledon and a future second-round pick. On October 2, Brown was waived by the Thunder.

Raptors 905 / Los Angeles Lakers (2022–2023) On December 17, 2022, Brown signed with Raptors 905 of the NBA G League.

On January 6, 2023, Brown signed a ten-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, appearing in four games. On January 16, he was re-acquired by Raptors 905 after his contract with the Lakers expired.

Alba Berlin (2023–2024) On August 15, 2023, Brown signed with Basketball Bundesliga and EuroLeague club Alba Berlin.

Partizan (2024–2026)

On August 20, 2024, Brown signed with Partizan Mozzart Bet of the ABA League, Basketball League of Serbia (KLS) and the EuroLeague. In his debut season with Partizan, Brown averaged career-high 12.4 points over 34 EuroLeague games, on 52.3% shooting from the field. During the 2024–25 season, Partizan managed to lift the record eighth ABA League championship, and the Serbian League championship, the first one after 11 seasons.

On March 28, 2026, Brown received a Round 34 MVP honors after scoring 31 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal. The award was the first MVP of the Round recognition of his Euroleague career as well as the first for a Partizan player this season.

Žalgiris Kaunas (2026–present) On July 7, 2026, Brown signed a 1+1 contract with Lithuanian club Žalgiris Kaunas. The transfer was finalized following a reported $530,000 buyout fee paid to Partizan.

Career statistics

EuroLeague

NBA Regular season

Playoffs

Domestic leagues Year Team League

College

2018 Milwaukee police incident On January 26, 2018, at 2 am, Brown was approached by a Milwaukee police officer because his car was straddling two handicapped parking spaces. This occurred in a nearly empty Walgreens parking lot on the south end of the city, the intersection of South 27th street and National Ave. After Brown interacted with the officer, who requested backup, a number of officers arrived on scene. Several minutes after the first officer began talking with Brown, an officer yelled at Brown to remove his hands from the pockets of his hoodie. He was subsequently tackled to the ground and tased. Brown was arrested on suspicion of resisting arrest, but the case was not referred to prosecutors after an internal review. Brown called the incident "an attempt at police intimidation, followed by the unlawful use of physical force."

On May 4, 2021 in a 14–0 vote, the City of Milwaukee Common Council approved a $750,000 settlement with Sterling Brown over the 2018 incident with police. Although the settlement contained no admission of constitutional rights violations, it did contain an apology and recognition of an unnecessary escalation despite Brown's calm behavior. Officers involved in the action have been suspended, reassigned, and others required to undergo retraining. Moreover, the settlement called for a change in police tactics and institutes a set of anti-racist policing policies and procedures that discipline officers for violating civil and human rights. The settlement also includes a new requirement that officers log every event in which an officer draws a gun, personnel investigations for city police officers and a requirement to wear body cameras.

Personal life Sterling Brown is the younger brother of two-time NBA champion Shannon Brown.