Anthony Lamb
October 29, 2024
Barry Brown Jr
- Nationality: USA
- Date of Birth: 21/12/96
- Place of Birth: St. Petersburg, Florida (USA)
- Position: GRD
- Height (CM): 191
- Weight (KG): 81
- Junior Assoc:
- College: Kansas State (2015–2019)
- NBL DEBUT: 18/09/22
- AGE AT DEBUT: 25
- LAST NBL GAME: 15/03/23
- AGE AT LAST GAME: 26
- NBL History: New Zealand 2023
- Championships: 0
- None
BIO: Brown Barry was born and raised in St. Petersburg, Florida (USA). Brown Jr. began playing basketball at a young age and was competing in recreational tournaments at the age of five. By the age of seven, he was playing in older age brackets in Amateur Athletic Union tournaments.
Brown attended Gibbs High School [St. Petersburg, Florida] where he was coached by Larry Murphy. He scored 36 points in the regional final as a senior to lead Gibbs to a win over Golden Gate.
Brown was a three-star recruit and committed to Kansas State over offers from Florida Gulf Coast, Providence, Texas A&M and Wichita State.
NBL EXPERIENCE
Barry Brown Jr made his NBL debut with the New Zealand Breakers at 25 years of age. He scored 23 points in his first game.
New Zealand began its first season with regular home games in two years after finishing the previous campaign at the bottom of the ladder with a 5-23 record. Assistant Mody Maor replaced departing head coach Dan Shamir, while Yanni Wetzell (to Spain), Hugo Besson (to France), Peyton Siva (to Illawarra), Finn Delany (to Germany), Ousmane Dieng (to Oklahoma City) and Chasson Randle (to Denver) exited the team.
Thomas Abercrombie, Robert Loe and William McDowell-White returned from the previous season, with Tom Vodanovich (via Sydney), Izayah Le’Afa (via South East Melbourne) and Cameron Gliddon (via South East Melbourne) joining the local roster. Imports Dererk Pardon (via Israel), Jarrell Brantley and Barry Brown Jr (via Beijing) were signed alongside French Next Star Rayan Rupert, although Abercrombie suffered a torn retina during the preseason and missed the opening month.
Brown Jr joined New Zealand on a one-year deal after playing for the Beijing Ducks in China. A foot injury restricted him during the NBL Blitz and led the Breakers to sign Jarrell’s older brother Jamaal Brantley as Brown Jr’s nominated injury replacement.
New Zealand opened the season against Melbourne at John Cain Arena on October 2, where Brown Jr (23 points, 4 rebounds, and 5 assists) and Pardon (23 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks) led the Breakers, while Xavier Rathan-Mayes (33 points, 5 rebounds, 9 assists, 1 steal, and 1 block) carried United to a 101-97 overtime victory.
Brown Jr (19.6 points, 2.8 rebounds, 2.4 assists, and 1.2 steals across 27 games) started the opening two games before moving into a sixth-man role, providing New Zealand with immediate scoring and defensive pressure from the bench. He missed three games during October with hamstring tightness before returning against Cairns.
“I’ve gained more offensive presence, for sure, but I’m still a defensive guard,” Brown Jr said.
Brown Jr returned at the Cairns Convention Centre on October 23, scoring 24 points and grabbing 3 rebounds as Brantley (13 points and 4 rebounds) and Le’Afa (11 points) helped New Zealand win its 600th NBL game with a 68-64 victory, while DJ Hogg (25 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) led the Taipans.
Five days later, Brown Jr (22 points and 4 assists) and Brantley (22 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, and 1 block) led New Zealand to a 99-70 victory over Adelaide at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Le’Afa (15 points and 3 steals) provided further support as the Breakers forced 18 turnovers and made 15 three-pointers, while Kai Sotto (16 points and 7 rebounds) led the 36ers.
Brown Jr (24 points) then led New Zealand to a 94-62 victory over Tasmania at Spark Arena, with Pardon (15 points, 14 rebounds, and 1 block) and McDowell-White (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 7 assists) helping the Breakers record their largest win at the venue and move into first place after winning six of their opening eight games, while Milton Doyle (22 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 steals) led the JackJumpers.
The league’s top two teams met at Spark Arena on November 6, where Brown Jr (22 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals), Le’Afa (15 points and 4 assists) and Pardon (11 points, 7 rebounds, and 3 blocks) helped New Zealand recover from a 12-point fourth-quarter deficit. Justin Simon (13 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals) led Sydney to an 81-77 victory, while Rupert suffered a broken wrist that sidelined him for two months.
Brown Jr scored 14 of his 22 points during the fourth quarter against Adelaide at the Trusts Arena on November 20, with Pardon (19 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals, and 3 blocks) and Brantley (17 points, 10 rebounds, and 2 steals) helping New Zealand defeat the 36ers 89-83, while Antonius Cleveland (17 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) led Adelaide.
Brown Jr’s best regular-season scoring performance came against South East Melbourne at Christchurch Arena on December 1, where he made 11 of 18 field goals and four of six three-pointers to finish with 31 points, 2 assists, and 1 steal. Brantley (18 points and 4 rebounds) and McDowell-White (14 points, 5 rebounds, and 11 assists) helped New Zealand collect its fifth consecutive win with a 110-84 victory, while Alan Williams (29 points, 13 rebounds, and 2 steals) led the Phoenix.
Two days later, Brown Jr (27 points) led New Zealand against Perth at Spark Arena, with Pardon (13 points, 14 rebounds, and 1 block) providing support, but former Breaker Corey Webster (26 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals) carried the Wildcats to a 92-84 victory and ended New Zealand’s five-game winning streak.
A groin strain then forced Brown Jr to miss four games during January, with New Zealand losing three times during his absence. He returned against Brisbane at Nissan Arena on January 26, scoring 14 points and recording 3 assists and 2 steals as Brantley (22 points, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 block) and Pardon (17 points and 9 rebounds) led the Breakers to a 99-71 victory, while Tyler Johnson (20 points and 5 rebounds) was Brisbane’s leading scorer.
Brown Jr (11 points and 4 assists) helped New Zealand secure its place in the playoffs against Melbourne at Spark Arena two days later. Brantley (18 points, 5 rebounds, 1 steal, and 1 block) and Loe (15 points, 6 rebounds, and 1 steal) led a 19-0 Breakers run during the 80-74 victory, while Rathan-Mayes (15 points and 7 rebounds) led United.
New Zealand overcame a 16-point halftime deficit against Illawarra at the WIN Entertainment Centre on February 2, outscoring the Hawks 29-9 during the third quarter before winning 91-81. Brown Jr (22 points) and Brantley (20 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals) led the comeback, while Tyler Harvey (22 points and 2 steals) was Illawarra’s best. Brown Jr suffered a broken left hand during the game and missed New Zealand’s final regular-season victory over Brisbane.
Brantley (16.3 points, 6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals across 35 games) joined Brown Jr as New Zealand’s leading scorers, while Pardon (11.8 points and 8.2 rebounds across 35 games) anchored the interior. McDowell-White (10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 5.8 assists across 33 games) directed the offence, with Le’Afa (10.1 points across 34 games), Rupert (5.9 points across 28 games), Loe (5.8 points and 3.9 rebounds across 30 games) and Abercrombie (5.6 points, 3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals across 27 games) completing the main rotation.
Brown Jr was named the NBL’s Best Sixth Man after receiving 73 votes and joined Pardon on the All-NBL Second Team. Brantley was named the Breakers’ club MVP, Pardon received the club’s Defensive Player of the Year award and Brown Jr won the Members’ Choice award as New Zealand finished second with an 18-10 record and returned to the playoffs for the first time in five years.
Tasmania defeated Cairns 87-79 in the play-in tournament to set up a best-of-three semifinal series against New Zealand. Brown Jr returned despite the broken hand and played through the injury for the remainder of the postseason.
New Zealand opened the semifinals at Spark Arena with an 88-68 victory, where Brown Jr (11 points) contributed as Pardon (15 points, 9 rebounds, 1 steal, and 2 blocks) and McDowell-White (13 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, and 1 steal) led the Breakers, while Rashard Kelly (12 points and 4 rebounds) and Doyle (10 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals) were Tasmania’s best.
Game two moved to MyState Bank Arena, where Brown Jr (19 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals), Brantley (17 points, 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and 2 blocks) and Pardon (15 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 steals) led New Zealand, but Doyle (23 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, and 3 steals) and Jack McVeigh (16 points) carried Tasmania to an 89-78 victory and levelled the series.
Brown Jr’s best game of the season came in the deciding semifinal at Spark Arena, where he made 10 of 16 field goals and both of his three-pointers to finish with 32 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 steals. Pardon (15 points, 14 rebounds, and 2 steals) and Brantley (14 points and 7 rebounds) provided support, while McVeigh (22 points and 7 rebounds) and Kelly (16 points and 4 rebounds) led Tasmania as New Zealand won 92-77 and reached its first Championship Series since 2016.
The Championship Series opened at Qudos Bank Arena, where Brown Jr (19 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) scored 13 points during the fourth quarter despite his broken hand as McDowell-White (19 points, 9 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals) and Brantley (16 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 steals) led New Zealand to a 95-87 victory. Simon (18 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Jordan Hunter (15 points and 4 rebounds) led Sydney, while Xavier Cooks and Derrick Walton Jr both suffered leg injuries.
Game two moved to Spark Arena, where Brown Jr (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals), Brantley (20 points and 6 rebounds) and Pardon (6 points, 11 rebounds, and 4 blocks) led New Zealand, but Kouat Noi (20 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals), Dejan Vasiljevic (16 points and 4 rebounds) and Simon (12 points, 9 rebounds, and 6 steals) carried Sydney to an 81-74 victory despite Walton Jr lasting less than five minutes and Cooks sitting out the second half.
Sydney regained the series lead at Qudos Bank Arena with a 91-68 victory in front of an NBL record crowd of 18,049, where Brown Jr (10 points, 3 assists, and 2 steals), McDowell-White (11 points and 6 rebounds) and Brantley (10 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals) led New Zealand. Vasiljevic (15 points and 4 rebounds), Tim Soares (14 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 blocks) and Walton Jr (12 points, 6 rebounds, and 9 assists) led the Kings.
New Zealand forced a deciding game with an 80-70 victory at Spark Arena, where Brown Jr (20 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists), Brantley (23 points and 5 rebounds) and McDowell-White (19 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Breakers, while Abercrombie recorded 6 steals. Walton Jr (18 points, 3 rebounds, and 4 assists) and Angus Glover (12 points and 2 steals) led Sydney in front of a New Zealand basketball record crowd of 9,742.
The deciding game returned to Qudos Bank Arena, where New Zealand led by 11 points during the opening quarter before Sydney produced a late 14-0 run and won 77-69 in front of another NBL record crowd of 18,124. Brown Jr (22 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists), Brantley (16 points and 4 rebounds) and McDowell-White (12 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists) led the Breakers, while Walton Jr (21 points, 3 rebounds, and 6 assists), Cooks (19 points and 11 rebounds) and Glover (12 points and 9 rebounds) delivered Sydney its second consecutive championship. Walton Jr was named Grand Final MVP, while the five-game series drew 67,811 fans and Brown Jr finished with 22 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, and 1 steal.
Barry Brown Jr played one season in the NBL. He averaged 19.4 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in 28 NBL games.
HIGHLIGHTS:
NBL TOTAL STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 26 | New Zealand | 18-10 (2) | 28 | 711 | 544 | 79 | 69 | 16 | 63 | 35 | 1 | 61 | 70 | 193 | 431 | 45% | 51 | 152 | 34% | 107 | 148 | 72% | 54% | 51% | 32 | Totals | 28 | 711 | 544 | 79 | 69 | 16 | 63 | 35 | 1 | 61 | 70 | 193 | 431 | 44.8% | 51 | 152 | 33.6% | 107 | 148 | 72.3% | 55% | 51% | 32 |
NBL PER GAME STATISTICS
| SEASON | AGE | TEAM | TEAM RECORD | GP | MINS | PTS | REB | AST | OR | DR | STL | BLK | TO | PF | FGM | FGA | FG% | 3PM | 3PA | 3P% | FTM | FTA | FT% | TS% | EFG% | HS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 26 | New Zealand | 18-10 (2) | 28 | 25.4 | 19.4 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 6.9 | 15.4 | 45% | 1.8 | 5.4 | 34% | 3.8 | 5.3 | 72% | 54% | 51% | 32 | Total | 28 | 25.4 | 19.4 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 0.6 | 2.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 6.9 | 15.4 | 44.8% | 0.0 | 0.0 | 33.6% | 1.8 | 5.4 | 72.3% | 55% | 51% | 32 |
CAREER HIGHS
| POINTS | REBOUNDS | ASSISTS | STEALS | BLOCKS | TURNOVERS | TRIPLE DOUBLES | 32 | 6 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 0 |
|---|
NBA EXPERIENCE
After not being selected in the 2019 NBA draft, Brown was signed to a summer league deal by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
On October 14, the Timberwolves signed Brown to their preseason roster. He was waived in training camp and assigned to the Timberwolves’ NBA G League affiliate, the Iowa Wolves. On February 24, 2020, Brown contributed 35 points, five rebounds, and three assists in a 152–148 loss to the South Bay Lakers.
Brown Jr played games in the NBA. He averaged 0 points, 0 rebounds, and 0 assists per game over his NBA career.
INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Germany - MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg (2020–2021) | China - Beijing Ducks (2021–2022), Guangzhou Loong Lions (2024) | France - Metropolitans 92 (2023) | Italy - Reyer Venezia Mestre (2023–2024)
Brown Jr joined MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg for the 2020–21 Basketball Bundesliga season in Germany, and after spending a season in the G-League he averaged 12.9 points and 2.3 rebounds across 28 games while also averaging 1.7 assists and signing with the club on July 8, 2020.
Brown Jr spent the 2021–22 season in China with the Beijing Ducks, where he averaged 17.4 points and 3.2 rebounds in 5 games while also averaging 2.0 assists after joining the club in January 2022.
Brown Jr joined Metropolitans 92 for the 2022–23 LNB Pro A season in France on May 15, 2023, and after spending the 2022–23 season in the NBL he signed to play the second half of the season in the French national league and scored 12 points on debut.
On July 23, 2023, Brown Jr signed with Reyer Venezia Mestre for the 2023–24 Lega Basket Serie A season in Italy, and on January 31, 2024, he left the club after averaging 9.6 points, 2.1 rebounds, and 1.4 assists across 14 league games.
On February 1, 2024, Brown Jr joined the Guangzhou Loong Lions of the Chinese Basketball Association, and in 22 games he averaged 26.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 3.0 steals.
COLLEGE
Barry Brown Jr. played four collegiate seasons at Kansas State from 2015–16 to 2018–19, developing into one of the most accomplished guards in program history and a cornerstone of the Wildcats’ resurgence under head coach Bruce Weber.
Brown made an immediate impact as a freshman during the 2015–16 season, earning a spot on the Big 12 All-Newcomer Team while appearing in all 33 games and establishing himself as a defensive disruptor and reliable backcourt scorer in conference play.
As a sophomore in 2016–17, Brown elevated his role significantly, averaging 11.7 points per game and setting a Kansas State single-season record with 82 steals, a mark that highlighted his reputation as one of the premier perimeter defenders in the Big 12.
His sophomore campaign included a career-high 38-point performance in an 86–82 win over Oklahoma State on January 9, 2018, the highest single-game scoring output by a Wildcat in nearly a decade and one of the top individual scoring games in the conference that season.
During the 2017–18 season, Brown earned second-team All-Big 12 honours and was named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team, playing a central role in Kansas State’s NCAA Tournament run while consistently drawing the assignment of guarding the opposition’s top perimeter scorer.
In the 2018 NCAA Tournament, Brown scored 18 points in each of Kansas State’s first two games against Creighton and UMBC, then delivered 13 points in the Sweet 16 victory over Kentucky, including the decisive layup in the closing seconds to seal the 61–58 win and send the Wildcats to the Elite Eight.
Brown finished the 2017–18 season averaging 15.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game, helping Kansas State reach 25 wins and its first Elite Eight appearance since 2010, while emerging as one of the most complete two-way guards in the country.
Following the season, Brown declared for the 2018 NBA Draft but elected not to sign with an agent, preserving his NCAA eligibility before ultimately returning to Kansas State for his senior season.
In his final year during the 2018–19 season, Brown was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Wildcat to earn the award while continuing to serve as the team’s primary perimeter stopper and late-game offensive option.
He concluded his Kansas State career as the program’s all-time leader in steals, while ranking among the school’s career leaders in games played, scoring, and defensive impact, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential guards in Wildcats history.
AWARDS
- Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2019)
- First-team All-Big 12 (2019)
- Second-team All-Big 12 (2018)
- 2× Big 12 All-Defensive Team (2018, 2019)
- Big 12 All-Newcomer Team (2016)
Related
HAVE MORE INFORMATION ON THIS PLAYER?
Whilst we try to source as much information as we can for every player who has ever played in the NBL some information on a player profile may be missing. If you have additional information on a player you'd like us to add to a profile, please send it to us using the enquiry form below.
Submissions are then sent to info@aussiehoopla.com