Connect with us

Former NC State Shooting Guard Lorenzo Brown’s two-year professional career has tossed him around like a yo-yo.

Brown was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in the second round of the 2013 NBA Draft, with the 52nd overall pick.  Shortly after the draft the Timberwolves waived Brown on October 25th, 2013.  Exactly one week later he was acquired by the Springfield Armor, the D-League affiliate of the Brooklyn Nets.  In 8 games with the Armor, Brown averaged 13 and 5 assists in 25 minutes per game.  As a result, the Philadelphia 76ers were impressed with what they saw and picked up Brown on November 10th, 2013.

During Brown’s rookie season, he went up-and-down between the NBA and the 76ers D-League team in Delaware 6 different times.  Brown saw action in 26 games with the Philadelphia 76ers that year, averaging 8.6 minutes per game and scored a season high of 8 points on December 14th.  Down in the D-League that same year, Brown averaged 20 points, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds in 12 games with the Delaware 76ers.  Despite that, he was officially waived by the Philadelphia 76ers on March 14th.

After being waived, the offseason after his rookie season was a roller coaster.  He signed with Reyer Venezia, a professional team in Venice, Italy, but he never even suited up for them because he failed his physical.  On September 25th he was picked up by the Detroit Pistons and started playing with their D League affiliate team, the Grand Rapids Drive a month later at the start of the 2014-15 season.  Brown excelled with the Drive, averaging 17 points, 4 assists, and 5 rebounds per game (19 games), and was named to the Futures All-Star Team for the 2015 NBA D-Leauge All-Star Game in February of this year.

The Minnesota Timberwolves, the team that originally drafted Brown, paid attention to his success in the D League, and when Ricky Rubio and Mo Williams went down with injuries, they signed Zo to a 10-day contract on January 28th.  Brown had a great first game with the T-Wolves, scoring 11 points and dishing out 3 assists in 24 minutes of play.  He actually was forced into the starting lineup due to more injuries in just his second game, and played 48 minutes, and picked up 9 assists and 6 rebounds.  The Timberwolves ended up signing Brown to a 2nd 10-day contract, before officially signing him to a contract to finish out the season.  In Brown’s sophomore season with the Timberwolves he averaged 4 points, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds over an average of 19 minutes per game.  He even started 7 games this season.

The future with Brown and the Timberwolves is unknown at this point, but he has shown extreme perservearance, and Wolfpacks fans should be proud of him.

Related Topics:

Matthew is Publisher and Co-Owner of Pack Insider. He is also the Lead Pastor of The Point Church in Cary, NC.

Click to comment
Subscribe
Notify of
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Pack in the Pros

Mike Tomlin’s Thoughts on the Steelers Drafting NC State’s Payton Wilson

Published

1 week ago

on

April 29, 2024

By

Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was ecstatic that NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson was available for Pittsburgh to pick up with the 98th overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft.

“We had to get comfortable with his medical and we brought him in on a pre draft visit. We allowed our medical experts to really get a good evaluation of him. We talked to him about his injury history. We were at a place of comfort. And so from that perspective, man, we’re really excited about having him.” (Link)

“Man, we’re really excited about Peyton. When we turn his tape on, we see him making all the type of plays you need linebackers to make. He’s a volume tackle player. He makes plays in the passing game from a coverage perspective via interception and pass breakup. He gets after the quarterback in the blitz game. He’s got a very well-rounded skillset. He’s a fluid mover. He can run. Had an opportunity to lay some real up close eyes on him down there in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, we’re thankful we had an opportunity to get him. He’s got all the hardware that comes with some of those things that I described being a Butkus Award winner and so forth. We had to get comfortable with his medical and we brought him in on a pre draft visit. We allowed Our medical experts to really get a good evaluation of him. We talked to him about his injury history. We were at a place of comfort. And so from that perspective, man, we’re really excited about having him.” (Link)

“I think you could characterize it as surprised. I mean, he is an award-winning linebacker, Butkus Award winner. Had an opportunity to get really familiar with him down in Mobile as well. But the linebackers themselves weren’t coming off the board at that juncture. So sometimes they make runs on positions at different times and it hadn’t been a lot of linebackers to that point. I think what he was number five or so.” (Link)

“We’re really excited about Payton. When we turn his tape on, we see him making all the types of plays you need linebackers to make. He’s a volume tackle player. He makes plays in the passing game from a coverage perspective via interception and pass breakup. He gets after the quarterback in the blitz game. He’s got a very well-rounded skill set. He’s a fluid mover. We had to get comfortable with his medical, and we were. We brought him in on a pre-draft visit to allow our medical experts to really get a good evaluation of him. We talked to him about his injury history. We were at a place of comfort, and so from that perspective, we’re really excited about having him.” (Link)

Continue Reading

Pack in the Pros

Payton Wilson will Wear #41 for the Pittsburgh Steelers

Published

1 week ago

on

April 28, 2024

By

Former NC State Linebacker Payton Wilson, who was drafted by Pittsburgh in 3rd round on Friday night, will wear the #41 for the Steelers.

Wilson spent his entire collegiate career at NC State wearing the #11. He wore the #11 at Orange High School.

It will take some getting used to recognize him in the #41 jersey. Currently, Steelers Wide Receiver Van Jefferson is wearing the #11.

Here’s a look at other Pittsburgh players who have worn the #41.

Continue Reading

NC State Football

NC State CB Shyheim Battle Receives Invitation to Jets Rookie Mini Camp

Published

1 week ago

on

April 28, 2024

By

NC State Cornerback Shyheim Battle has received an invitation from the New York Jets to participate in their Rookie Mini Camp.

Battle had 1 year of eligibility remaining, but declared for the NFL Draft on January 3rd.

He finished this past year as the most experienced player on the Wolfpack’s defense, starting in 41 of the 51 games he has played in dating back to 2019. In a rarity in this day-and-age, Battle was a 4-year starter at the Cornerback position for NC State. He graduated with a degree in Communications.

In his final season in Red and White, Battle had 46 tackles, 2 tackles for loss, 2 interceptions, 4 pass breakups and 1 fumble recovery. His PFF Grade of 70.6 was the 7th best on the Wolfpack defense.

Continue Reading

NC State Football

NC State PK Brayden Narveson Signs Undrafted Free Agent Deal with the Titans

Published

1 week ago

on

April 27, 2024

By

NC State Place Kicker Brayden Narveson has signed an Undrafted Free Agent Deal with the Tennessee Titans.

In his one season in Raleigh, Narveson made 18 of his 23 Field Goal attempts for the Wolfpack, and made all 38 Extra Point attempts. Narveson made some history in his one season at NC State, kicking a 57-yard Field Goal against Duke, breaking the school record for the longest Field Goal.

Narveson ranked 4th in the ACC in Field Goals attempted (23), and 5th in Field Goals made (18) this season. He ranked 9th in conference in scoring (7.1 points per game).

Continue Reading