Lorenzo Brown

Lorenzo Brown's Biography

Born in Roswell, Georgia, on August 26, 1990, Lorenzo Dontez Brown is a well-known professional basketball player with a multi-national career that spans from America to Spain. A dual citizen of the United States and Spain, Brown now plays for Panathinaikos of the Greek Basketball League (GBL) as well as the EuroLeague. However, before reaching this high point of his career, Brown experienced the many ups and downs associated with professional sports, constantly hustling, growing, and refining his skills across various leagues and teams.

The journey began in his hometown, where he attended Centennial High School. His skills during this time were exceptional, even as a young player. As a senior, he brilliantly maintained an average of 20.8 points, which led to him being named a fourth-team Parade All-American and the Georgia 5A Player of the Year. Rivals.com further recognized his prowess, ranking him the No. 36 nationally, and No. 7 shooting guard overall upon his graduation in 2009. Pursuing further refinement, he moved to the Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Virginia.

In 2010, Brown entered collegiate basketball, joining the North Carolina (NC) State Wolfpack. For three seasons, he played as a 6’5″ guard, beginning all three seasons and leading the pack to back-to-back NCAA tournament appearances in 2012 and 2013. His third-year average of 12.4 points and 4.3 rebounds per game was very impressive. More so, he led the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with an average of 7.2 assistances per game, earning him a spot in the All-ACC second team.

Brown’s talent was beginning to stand out, and by the end of the 2012-13 season, he decided to forego his final collegiate season to pursue a professional career in the NBA. In the 2013 NBA draft, he was selected 52nd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Brown then ventured into the NBA Summer League.

The NBA journey was riddled with a series of successes and setbacks, propelling Brown between the main league and the Development League (now known as the G League). Lorenzo Brown played for the Springfield Armor, Philadelphia 76ers, and Delaware 87ers before returning to the Timberwolves.

In 2014, Brown ventured into overseas basketball, signing with Italy’s Reyer Venezia. However, due to failed physical evaluations, Venezia voided his contract. Brown then found a new home with the Detroit Pistons and Grand Rapids Drive. Throughout his time in the NBA and D-League, Brown continued to impress, even earning a spot in the NBA D-League All-Star Game in 2015 and 2016.

Various stints in several teams, including the Phoenix Suns and the Detroit Pistons, ensued before he had another international stint in Russia with the team UNICS Kazan in 2016 and later in China with the Zhejiang Golden Bulls. In China, he replaced injured player Cady Lalanne and averaged 24 points per game while shooting 80% from the free-throw line.

In the Fall of 2017, Brown returned home, signing a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors. He was the first player with previous NBA experience to sign a two-way contract with an NBA team, spending time both in the NBA and their G League affiliate, the Raptors 905. His superb performance earned him the NBA G-League Most Valuable Player Award.

By 2019, Brown had played for Guangzhou Loong Lions (China), KK Crvena zvezda (Serbia), Fenerbahçe Beko (Turkey), and had returned to UNICS in Russia. His stellar performance continued in Europe, where he averaged double digits in points over multiple seasons.

Brown received Spanish citizenship in 2022, allowing him to become a part of the national team. He contributed significantly to Spain’s EuroBasket title victory against France the same year, earning him a spot in the All-Tournament Team.

In July 2024, Brown signed with current EuroLeague Champions Panathinaikos after three successful seasons with Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he performed exceptionally well. His contract with Panathinaikos is a three-year deal, worth 5.4 million euros, showcasing a highly promising future for the talented player.

Lorenzo Dontez Brown’s fascinating career is a testament to his dedication, hard work, and a commitment to continually learning and improving, even in the face of adversity. His journey through the United States, Spain, Italy, Russia, China, Serbia, and Turkey has not only honed his professional skills but has also made him an international basketball ambassador. His current stint with Panathinaikos in Greece continues to build on an already impressive career, offering showing no sign of slowing down.