Los Angeles Clippers select Kobe Brown in 2023 NBA Draft

Former Missouri forward Kobe Brown is officially off the board in the 2023 NBA Draft. He will begin his pro career with the Los Angeles Clippers after being selected with the No. 30 pick of the first round.

No single player benefitted more from Missouri’s hire of Dennis Gates than Brown. His job in the new coach’s system was tough but rewarding. Since Gates likes spreading out the court with four or five three-point shooters, the 6-foot-7 Brown was asked to play center, anchor rebounding efforts and shoot the three. Well, he did it all.

Brown leapt up to 15.8 points and 6.4 rebounds per game this year while shooting 45.5% from three and nearly 60% from two — crazy efficient numbers! With his size and frame plus the shooting and positional versatility he showed his senior year, Kobe Brown went from draft dreamer to a legitimate prospect. He’s a tremendous story of player development at the college level and a player Gates can sell to future recruits.

In high school basketball, Brown played for Lee High School in Huntsville, Alabama. He was rated as the No. 182 overall prospect and a three-star recruit, according to the On3 Industry Rankings for the 2019 cycle.

What NBA Draft experts are saying about Kobe Brown

The folks over at RotoWire provided the following analysis on Brown as a potential NBA player:

“Brown’s improved shooting efficiency as a senior turned him into an intriguing prospect. He was always good in transition thanks to his athleticism, but he transformed into a three-level scorer during the 2022-23 campaign and showcased a patient, mature mentality in half-court sets. At 6-foot-7, he has the size to guard numerous positions, but his upside is contingent on how his offensive game translates to the NBA.”

They also believe Brown won’t see a ton of playing time as a rookie unless he’s able to carve out a role as a 3-and-D player. Whether he plays a ton his rookie year or not, that’s the mold for Brown to follow. His experience at center was good practice for the pros, because even though he won’t be playing center in the NBA, he’ll be equipped to hold his own as a power forward and should find success as a stretch four at some point during his career.