CT Suns’ Lexie Brown, Dee Brown Prove Basketball’s A Family Business

Former NBA Slam Dunk champ Dee Brown passed the professional basketball mic to his daughter Lexie.

There were several family-oriented stories that emerged from the 2018 WNBA Draft on Thursday at Nike Headquarters in Manhattan, but one particular story earned top billing. The moments shared between former NBA player Dee Brown and his daughter Lexie, the No. 9 overall pick of the first-round was a touching and inspirational connection and journey taken by an African-American father and his daughter.

Duke Women’s Basketball on Twitter

Lexie Brown is now the only active @ncaawbb player with 2,000+ points, 500+ assists and 300+ steals. @lexiekiah_4 is really good.

Before Thursday night, when Lexie, a 5-foot-9 guard from Duke University, was drafted by the Connecticut Sun, the highlight of Dee Brown’s hoops career occurred in 1991, when he won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. Brown entered another stratosphere of popularity when he pumped up his Reebok before scaling the hoop on a dunk. Then he took down legendary aerial master and rim-obliterator Shawn Kemp in the Finals with an unforgettable no-look lefty stuff.

Dee Brown – 1991 NBA Slam Dunk Contest (Champion)

Round 1 First Dunk (Score: 48.2): 0:00 Second Dunk (Score: 44.2): 1:08 Round 2 First Dunk (Score: 49.6): 2:09 Second Dunk (Score: 48.4): 3:02 Round 3 First Dunk (Score: 48.1): 3:54 Second Dunk (Score: 46.4): 5:15 Third Dunk (Score: 49.6): 5:37 February 9, 1991 – Dee Brown took down the high flying Shawn Kemp with an impressive run at the 1991 NBA Slam Dunk Competition.

Lexie has followed in her father’s footsteps and reached the pinnacle of her profession. Brown was a Third Team All-America selection in 2016-17 and 2017-18 at Duke and in 2014-15 at Maryland, becoming the first player in NCAA history to earn the honor at two schools.

Gamble Dukes

Duke guard Lexie Brown discusses being drafted into the WNBA by the Connecticut Sun, The Duke influence and Her Dad Dee Brown’s historic 1991 NBA Slam Dunk victory

Dee is still big in the basketball world. He was elevated to General Manager of the Agua Caliente Clippers/Director of Player Programs of the L.A. Clippers in 2017 and has worked for the Nuggets, Kings, Pistons, Magic, Orlando Miracle and the Springfield Armor in coaching and player development positions.

He agrees that Connecticut is the perfect spot and expressed tremendous joy and hope about his daughters WNBA come up.

J. R Gambler on Twitter

1991 NBA Slam Dunk Champ celebrates his daughter Lexie Brown who was drafted in the first round… https://t.co/5bT0I3joFY

Everything has come full circle for Dee Brown,  a solid NBA player and prolific high-riser who averaged 11.1 points per game in his career over twelve NBA seasons (19902002) with the Boston Celtics, Toronto Raptors, and Orlando Magic.

Brown didn’t match his daughters lofty draft standing. The 6-foot-1 guard out of Jacksonville, Florida was chosen with the 19th pick of the 1990 NBA draft by Boston, but he made the  NBA All-Rookie Team, which is a feat his daughter has yet to match.

 

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