LAS VEGAS – University of San Diego alumnus Mike Brown ('93) added NBA Cup Champion to his long list of accolades as he led the New York Knicks to the mid-season title Tuesday night.
Brown, a multiple-time NBA Coach of the Year, guided the Knicks to the third edition of the Emirates NBA Cup with a 124-113 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Las Vegas' T-Mobile Arena. His team went 3-1 in the group stage to earn the Eastern Conference No. 3 seed as they went on to win out in the week-long, eight-team bracket.
Brown played for the Toreros Men's Basketball program from 1990-92 for Hank Egan and began his NBA career under the tutelage of fellow USD graduate and former NBA head coach Bernie Bickerstaff. Since then, in over 25 years in the NBA he's led four different franchises, collected two league coach of the year honors and won four NBA Finals Championships.
"SD played a fundamental role in my development as a young man and eventually as an NBA coach," Brown said upon being named Knicks Head Coach in July. "I have tremendous gratitude for the opportunity to play under Hall of Famer Hank Egan, most importantly just because he is just an outstanding person who taught me so many life lessons."
Brown, 55, played two years at USD for Egan after transferring from Mesa Community College. It was Egan who introduced Brown to Bickerstaff; allowing Brown to get his start in the NBA.
In 2005 Brown got his first shot as an NBA Head Coach with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He is one of five former Torero hoopers to become an NBA head coach, joining Bickerstaff ('66), Eric Musselman ('87), David Fizdale ('96) and James Borrego ('01) as USD ranks third nationally in number of former players to become NBA head coaches, behind only North Carolina's six and Indiana's seven.
In August, Brown, Fizdale, Borrego and a star-studded group of NBA and collegiate championship-winning coaches returned to America's Most Beautiful Campus for the inaugural USD Basketball Coaches Clinic.
READ: NBA and College Coaching Legends Gather for Sold-Out Clinic at USD
"The valued relationships that USD produces, led me to start my career under Bernie Bickerstaff," said Brown. "I will always appreciate that first opportunity and the door that he opened to NBA coaching while taking me under his wing. His loyalty, friendship, and mentorship exemplifies the impact that USD has had on my life and makes me a proud Torero."
In 1993, Brown earned a degree from USD in Business Finance. As a senior at USD in 1991-92, Brown started in 19 of 28 games, averaging 7.6 points and 3.1 rebounds. He deserved the team's Bugelli Leadership Award and was also a recipient of the Zable Athletic Excellence Award.
READ: USD Alumnus Mike Brown ('93) Named New York Knicks Head Coach
