Who Is Larry Brown (basketball)? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Born on September 14, 1940, Larry Brown is currently 84 years old. He has established an impressive legacy in basketball, known for his coaching skills at various levels, including college and professional basketball. He is the only coach to have won an NCAA championship and an NBA championship, showcasing his versatility and expertise in the sport. You can read more about him on his Wikipedia page.
Occupation | Basketball Players |
---|---|
Date of Birth | September 14, 1940 |
Age | 84 Years |
Birth Place | New York City, New York, U.S. |
Horoscope | Virgo |
Country | U.S |
Popularity
Larry Brown (basketball)'s Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Larry Brown stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 9 inches (175 cm), and during his playing career, he weighed around 160 lbs (73 kg). While exact measurements may vary, his smaller stature for a basketball player has not hindered his significant contributions to the game, highlighting his skills and strategic mind on the court.
In the summer of 1972, with a sore hip that was plaguing his play with Denver (he later had it replaced), Brown was offered to coach the Carolina Cougars by team owner Tedd Munchak. Despite favoring college coaching over the pros, he elected to take the "great opportunity" and coach for $30,000.
He then hired his friend and ex-teammate Doug Moe as an assistant coach. Using a "run-and-jump defense" that emphasized quickness and bench depth that could share minutes (at one point, Brown had four guards he had play equal time), the Cougars won 57 games in his first year; Billy Cunningham, who lept from the NBA, won league MVP that year.
The passing-game offense emphasized moving the ball quickly rather than isolation. After the second season, Brown left the team.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Larry Brown has been married twice. He has three children from his first marriage and has remained a devoted father. While there have been rumors about his dating life, Larry has kept his personal relationships private, focusing primarily on his family and career. There is no publicly confirmed information regarding a girlfriend or significant other.
His maternal grandfather Hittelman was from Minsk, Belarus, and his mother's family immigrated to the United States in 1910 and opened a bakery in Brooklyn. His mother met his father Milton Brown, a furniture salesman, when she was 26 years old. He has an older brother, Herbert, who has been an NBA head coach.
In 1947 his father died suddenly of a ruptured aneurysm. His family moved first to Brooklyn, then to Long Beach, New York, on Long Island. His mother lived until the age of 106.
Net Worth and Salary
Larry Brown’s net worth is estimated to be around $10 million as of 2025. His earnings stem from various coaching positions, endorsements, and speaking engagements. Throughout his illustrious career, he has coached iconic teams, which contributes significantly to his financial portfolio.
Brown's tenure as Knicks head coach lasted one season. The Knicks fired him on June 23, 2006, after he led the team to a 23–59 record. Brown's season with the Knicks was marred by public feuds with his own players, most notably point guard Stephon Marbury.
After the firing, the Knicks declined to pay the remaining sum (more than $40 million) under Brown's contract on the grounds that he had been terminated for cause. Before the contract dispute was to be heard by NBA Commissioner David Stern, Brown reached an agreement with the Knicks wherein the team agreed to pay him $18.5 million.
Career, Business, and Investments
Larry Brown’s career began as a player, but his passion for the game led him to coaching. Over the years, he has coached prestigious teams, including the University of Kansas, the Detroit Pistons, and the Philadelphia 76ers, among others. His coaching style and ability to develop talent have made him one of the most respected figures in basketball.
In addition to his coaching career, he has made several investments in basketball clinics and training facilities, emphasizing youth development in the sport. His commitment to mentoring young athletes continues to shape the future of basketball.
After a two-year stint (1965–1967) as an assistant coach at North Carolina, Brown joined the upstart American Basketball Association, playing with the New Orleans Buccaneers (1967–68), Oakland Oaks (1968–69), Washington Caps (1969–70), Virginia Squires (1970–71), and Denver Rockets (1971–72).
Brown was named MVP of the ABA's first All-Star Game in 1968, and was named to the All-ABA Second Team the same year. Brown led the ABA in assists per game during the league's first three seasons, and when he ended his playing career, Brown was the ABA's all-time assist leader.
His total of 2,509 assists places him seventh on the ABA's career list, and he holds the ABA record for assists in a game with 23. He was a three-time ABA All-Star.
Social Network
As of 2025, Larry Brown maintains a low profile on social media. However, he occasionally shares insights and thoughts on basketball through platforms like Twitter and Instagram, where he has amassed a following of fans and aspiring players eager to learn from his wisdom.
A stellar player for the Tar Heels in the early 1960s, Brown was considered too small to play in the NBA. He began his post-college career with the National Alliance of Basketball Leagues's Akron Wingfoots, where he played for two years (1964–65). He led the Wingfoots to the 1964 AAU National Championship. Brown was selected for Team USA's 1964 Summer Olympics team, which won the gold medal.
Education
Larry Brown attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he played for the Tar Heels under the legendary coach Dean Smith. His solid foundation in basketball began during these college years, which paved the way for his successful coaching career.
Lawrence Harvey Brown (born September 14, 1940) is an American basketball coach and former player who last served as an assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers. Brown is the only coach in basketball history to win both an NCAA national championship (Kansas Jayhawks, 1988) and an NBA title (Detroit Pistons, 2004).
He has a 1,275–965 lifetime professional coaching record in the American Basketball Association (ABA) and the National Basketball Association (NBA) and is the only coach in NBA history to lead eight teams (differing franchises) to the playoffs.
He also won an ABA championship as a player with the Oakland Oaks in the 1968–69 season, and an Olympic gold medal in 1964. He is also the only person ever to coach two NBA franchises in the same season (Spurs and Clippers during the 1991–92 NBA season).
Before coaching, Brown played collegiately at the University of North Carolina and professionally in the ABA.