​From his time as a player at the University of North Carolina to his legendary coaching career, Brown has left an indelible mark on the game of basketball. 

​

Brown’s basketball career began in Brooklyn, where he grew up in an underprivileged neighborhood playing pickup games on the streets. However, it wasn’t until he attended Long Beach High School in New York that his talent began to flourish. Brown was a standout player, earning him a scholarship to the University of North Carolina.

​

At UNC, Brown played under legendary coach Frank McGuire. Despite being an undersized point guard at 5 feet 9 inches tall, Brown quickly established himself as a valuable player on the team. He helped lead the Tar Heels to two Final Four appearances, including a national championship win in 1964.

 

After graduating from UNC in 1965, Brown played professionally for a few years before transitioning into coaching. He was drafted by the NBA, but instead played for the NABL’s Akron Wingfoots. Eventually, Brown was asked to play for Team USA in the 1964 Summer Olympics. It was when he returned from Tokyo that Smith asked him to coach at UNC.

​

Throughout his career, Brown has won numerous accolades. He is the only coach in basketball history to have won both an NCAA championship and an NBA championship. He was also inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2002. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all time. 

Brown’s basketball journey is a testament to his hard work and dedication. His beginnings at UNC set him on a path to greatness, and he has continued to leave his mark on the game of basketball long after his playing days were over.

​

When asked about his career and if he would change anything he had done, Brown emphasized that he had no regrets. 

​

“Now, I got this idea. You know, when you get in a car, your rear view mirror is really small and the front windshield is pretty big. So I have a tendency not to think about looking at what’s behind me, but instead, just looking at what’s in front of me.”