Sep
27
Former Illini Guard Dee Brown to Play Overseas Next Season
Inside the domed space ship, the five figures, all clad in orange, were aliens in the modern day of college basketball. Each pass in the motion offense was a game of connect-the-dots, evoking images of a beam of light bouncing from one constellation to another. The possessions would sometime extend for 15 to 16 passes, and culminate with the diminutive leader, garbed in headband and cornrows, launching a successful missile, as evident by the public address announcer’s infamous “Dee for 3” call.
Former University of Illinois star Dee Brown, a member of the Fighting Illini’s magical 2005 team that lost to North Carolina in the National Championship Game, is now Dee for Turkey. After spending his rookie season with the Utah Jazz and being offered a non-guaranteed contract with the team, Brown has decided to play for Turkish club Galatasaray with hopes of catching on with another NBA squad following the 2007-2008 season.
Brown’s decision to play overseas is a good one considering his position with the Jazz and the point in his career. Utah signed free-agent point guards Jason Hart and Ronnie Price in the offseason to back up superstar guard Deron Williams, Brown’s backcourt mate at the U-of-I.
Playing in Turkey will allow Brown to showcase his skills, gain more experience as a point guard, and have a more financially stable contract for the time being. And considering the fact that players like Charlie Bell of the Milwaukee Bucks and Anthony Parker of the Toronto Raptors have been able to successfully parlay overseas careers into NBA contracts, Brown is making a smart move rather than taking a big risk.
Sometimes it takes a while to find the right fit in the league, and Brown would be foolish to be fourth on the point guard depth chart in Utah (assuming that he would make the team out of training camp). Going to Turkey will give Brown the opportunity to potentially catch the eye of an NBA team that would value his selflessness, energy, defense, shooting ability, understanding of the game, and charisma.
Here’s hoping that Brown does make it back to the NBA. For what Brown lacks in size, he makes up with his game and most importantly his heart. At least for one year, Dee Brown will be a fan favorite in Turkey, just as he was in his four years at Illinois and his one season with the Jazz.
Brown’s defection to Turkey now means that three starters from Bruce Weber’s 2005 Fighting Illini are in the NBA. Williams stars in Utah, guard Luther Head is a nice complimentary piece off the bench for the Houston Browns and big man James Augustine is trying to stick with the Orlando Magic after spending most of his rookie season on the inactive list.
Like Brown, Roger Powell Jr., the underrated power forward on that Illinois team, will play overseas next season. Powell Jr. signed with Siviglia Wear of Teramo, Italy in August. Brown and Powell Jr. were briefly teammates on the Jazz last season before Powell was cut. If there ever was another player whose lack of size has hurt him from finding a spot in the NBA, it’s Powell, another guy deserving of a longer look in the league.
by Chris Maynard, chris@hoops4thesoul.com
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