Larry Brown, a former player and coach for the United States national team, is a basketball legend. Brown’s long and successful career in the game has earned him the respect of both fans and fellow athletes. He put in a lot of time and effort into the game, and as a result, he became a superb player and coach.
He was a talented player who could make it professionally after a great collegiate career.
However, Brown’s coaching career is responsible for his notoriety and wealth. Brown has made a lot of money thanks to his planning skills and ability to assemble winning teams.
Let’s get into the details and find out Larry Brown net worth and what he has done to make his money.
What is Larry Brown’s Net Worth and Salary in 2023?
In 2023, Larry Brown, a famous American basketball teacher and player, has a net worth of $70 million. Considering inflation, Brown has made over $150 million during his long and successful teaching career.
From the Detroit Pistons and the New York Knicks, he earned $45.5 million (about $187,000 per game) from 2003 to 2006. In fact, he earned a staggering $28.5 million for coaching the Knicks for just 331 days.
Larry Brown’s Overview
Early Life
Larry Brown was born on September 14, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York. He was a skilled basketball player from a young age.
Brown was raised in a Jewish family with roots in Minsk, Belarus. He went to Long Beach High School on Long Island, where he began to make a name for himself on the court.
As a 5’9″ point guard, he went on to play college basketball at the University of North Carolina under famous coaches Frank McGuire and Dean Smith. He was named All-Atlantic Coast Conference in 1963.
Brown started his post-college career with the NABL’s Akron Wingfoots, guiding them to the 1964 AAU National Championship.
Brown’s skills also got him a spot on Team USA, which won the gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics.
Playing Career
In 1963, he made All-Atlantic Coast Conference and won a gold medal with Team USA at the Maccabiah Games.
Brown played in the American Basketball Association (ABA) because he was too undersized for the NBA.
He played for five teams over five seasons, including:
- New Orleans Buccaneers
- Oakland Oaks
- Washington Caps
- Virginia Squires
- Denver Rockets
Brown was named Most Valuable Player of the 1968 ABA All-Star Game after dishing up a league-record 23 assists.
At the end of his career, he was the ABA’s all-time leader in assists but not its all-time leader in points.
Coaching Career, 1969-1992
Larry Brown’s coaching career began in 1969 when he took the head coaching position at Davidson College in North Carolina. However, he resigned after less than two months without coaching a single game.
Brown then transitioned to professional coaching, starting in the American Basketball Association (ABA) with the Carolina Cougars and Denver Nuggets. He earned three ABA Coach of the Year awards during this time.
In 1976, the Nuggets joined the NBA, and Brown continued to coach them until 1979. After his tenure with the Nuggets, Brown coached for UCLA from 1979 to 1981, leading the team to the NCAA title game in 1980, which was later vacated due to player ineligibility.
Brown then moved on to the NBA’s New Jersey Nets, coaching them from 1981 to 1983.
In 1988, he signed a five-year contract with the San Antonio Spurs, where he led the team to two consecutive Midwest Division titles. However, Brown was fired from the Spurs in January 1992.
Coaching Career, 1992-present
Larry Brown’s coaching career from 1992 to the present has been marked by his exceptional ability to transform struggling basketball teams into successful franchises.
After coaching in the ABA with the Carolina Cougars and Denver Nuggets, Brown moved on to the NBA, where he revitalized dormant teams, such as:
- Denver Nuggets
- New Jersey Nets
- San Antonio Spurs
- Los Angeles Clippers
- Indiana Pacers
- Philadelphia 76ers
Brown became the only head coach to win both an NCAA title (with Kansas in 1988) and an NBA championship (with the Detroit Pistons in 2004).
Brown’s perseverance and focus on teamwork and family have earned him several postseason berths and awards despite clashes with elite players like Allen Iverson.
In 2002, he was put into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2021, he received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association.
Brown is currently an assistant coach for the Memphis Tigers. He has spent his whole life teaching and mentoring young basketball players, and he is still doing it.
Why is Larry Brown Famous?
Larry Brown is well-known for making important changes to the sport of basketball. He was well-known as both a player and a teacher, and his influence on the sport will last long.
As a player, he showed off his skills at the college and professional levels and made a name for himself. But his work as a coach really put him on the map.
Brown is among the most successful and respected basketball teachers of all time due to his strategic genius, attention to detail, and ability to develop winning teams.
He has coached many college and professional teams, including the NBA, and led them to great wins and titles. Brown is well-known and revered in basketball because of how good he is as a teacher and how much he cares about and loves the game.
FAQs about Larry Brown
Is Larry Brown still married?
Yes, Larry Brown has been married to Shelly Galster since September 4, 1993, and they have two children together.
How much has Larry Brown earned throughout his coaching career?
After adjusting for inflation, Larry Brown has earned well over $150 million during his coaching career.
What was Larry Brown’s salary while coaching the Pistons and the Knicks from 2003-2006?
From 2003-2006, Larry Brown earned $45.5 million from the Pistons and the Knicks, which breaks down to $187,000 per game coached.
Who is the richest NBA coach?
Gregg Popovich is an American professional basketball coach with a net worth of $40 million. He is currently at the top of the list of NBA head coaches’ pay for 2022.
Conclusion
Ultimately, Larry Brown’s amazing basketball player and teacher journey has brought him fame and a lot of money. He has become a star because he is smart at making plans and cares a lot about basketball.
Brown has worked hard and done a lot in the world of hoops, and his big net worth shows that. Visit WCNetworth.com to learn more about the wealth of many famous people, including Larry Brown.
