Pros and cons of Los Angeles Clippers taking Kobe Brown of Missouri basketball in 2023 NBA Draft
Missouri basketball’s Kobe Brown’s NBA dream is coming true. Brown was selected 30th overall in the first round of the NBA Draft Thursday by the Los Angeles Clippers.
Brown was Missouri’s first player off the board Thursday. He's the 48th Tiger to be ever selected, the 16th Tiger to be selected in the first round of an NBA Draft and the third Tiger to be selected by the Clippers.
As the draft rolls along, here’s what to know about the guard/forward.
The positives
During his final two seasons at Missouri, Brown showed off the ability to take over a game. Tigers head coach Dennis Gates once noted that the Huntsville, Ala. native couldn’t have a bad game if MU was going to win, and he was mostly right.
Brown developed a three-point shot in his final season that he hadn’t previously. At six feet, eight inches tall and 250 pounds, he possesses a solid frame that’s allowed him to work the ball inside as well, as well as contribute on the boards.
He’s known as a high-character teammate and an excellent locker-room leader.
The concerns
At age 23, Brown is older than many of his fellow 2023 draftees. There’s also some concern over whether his newfound jump shot ability will stick.
Brown also was never one of the SEC’s elite rebounders, though that was an issue teamwide for the Tigers. He occasionally ran into foul trouble as well, sometimes due to the regular flow of the game, but sometimes due to ill-advised plays far from the basket.
Bottom line
With the right fit, Brown has the maturity and the talent needed to sustain a productive NBA career, especially if he continues to improve.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Los Angeles Clippers pick Missouri basketball's Kobe Brown in 2023 NBA Draft
