LARRY’S LEGACY

If there is one word that could describe Larry Brown’s coaching career it would be nomadic. Brown has been at the helm of 13 teams (three colleges). Here are some highlights: UCLA, 1979-1981 Spending only a brief time at Pauley Pavilion, Brown leads Bruins to the NCAA title game in 1980, where they lose to Louisville, 59-54. The NCAA appearance is later vacated, however, because the Bruins use two ineligible players.

KANSAS, 1983-88

Back in college after two-year stint with Nets, Brown wins his first and only NCAA championship behind the play of Danny Manning in 1988. Brown jets for the NBA as the NCAA bans KU from the 1989 NCAA Tournament for recruiting violations during his reign.

SAN ANTONIO, 1988-1992

Brown leads biggest singleseason improvement in NBA history at the time (21 wins in ’89 to 56 the next year).

PHILADELPHIA, 1997-2003

What is more amazing about Brown’s tenure in Philly: that he takes a struggling franchise (again) and leads it to the NBA Finals (2001), stays with the team for a careerhigh six seasons, or battles with mercurial star (again) Allen Iverson, which leads to A.I.’S famous “practice” rant in 2002.

DETROIT, 2003-05

Brown reaches his professional high point, winning NBA championship in 2004. In Brown’s last season, during NBA Finals against Spurs, rumors get out that coach will become the Cavs president the next season. Brown, who has been criticized his entire career for looking for jobs while with other teams, never shoots down rumor. Pistons, upset with Brown, part ways with coach via a buyout.

U.S. OLYMPIC TEAM, 2004

Team takes disappointing bronze medal, but Brown gets blasted for publicly feuding with players, including Stephon Marbury.

KNICKS, 2005-06

What can you say about Brown’s tenure in the Big Apple? Brown signs five-year deal worth between a record $50 million and $60 million, publicly clashes with Marbury (again) during the Knicks’ horrific 23-59 season and gets fired in June of 2006. And let’s not forget this allows Isiah Thomas to take over as head coach. He does, however, become the fourth coach in NBA history to win 1,000 games.