Sterling Brown (basketball)

Following the close of his college career, Brown raised his profile by appearing in the NABC College All-Star game and attended the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament. He was considered a potential second-round prospect for the 2017 NBA draft.[7][8] Brown was drafted in the second round with the 46th pick of the 2017 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. On July 6, 2017, his draft rights were traded to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for cash considerations.[9] Brown appeared in his first NBA game on October 20, 2017, against the Cleveland Cavaliers, posting three points in six minutes in Milwaukee's second game of the season.[10] On November 3, 2018, Brown was assigned to the Wisconsin Herd.[11] In his first game of the 2018–19 season, he scored 22 points on 10-of-17 from the field.[12] When Malcolm Brogdon was unavailable on January 20, 2018, against Philadelphia, Brown started and scored 14 points.[13] He posted a season-high 15 points on March 7, against the Houston Rockets.[14]

On January 26, 2018, Brown was tased and arrested inappropriately according to the Milwaukee Police Department Police Chief Alfonso Morales the following May.[15] Brown brought suit in June 2018 after the May release of bodycam footage and alleges racial profiling occurred in the administration of a parking ticket at a Walgreens parking lot.[16] After the incident an investigation was launched which resulted in 8 officers disciplined, with 3 of them suspended and 1 officer terminated.[16]

In October 2019, Brown rejected a $400,000 settlement offer from the Milwaukee City Council.[1] The high settlement offer was a legal maneuver intended to take advantage of Federal Rules of Civil Procedure 68. Under Rule 68 Sterling is responsible for the city's legal fees and incurred expenses if he loses the case or wins damages less than $400,000.[16] Brown expressed that he rejected the offer in part due to his ability and sense of responsibility to use his platform as an NBA player to raise awareness.[17] Brown's attorney, Mark Thomsen, condemned the settlement offer, saying it was the city's attempt to save face instead of admitting wrongdoing. As of November 27, 2019, court filings indicate that a federal civil rights lawsuit is proceeding to trial.[18]

On March 31, 2019, Brown posted a career-high 27 points, including a go-ahead layup with 1.1 seconds remaining in overtime against the Atlanta Hawks.[19]

On November 26, 2020, Brown signed with the Houston Rockets.[20]

On April 18, 2021, Brown suffered serious facial injuries during a fight outside of a Miami night club.[21]

Brown signed with the Dallas Mavericks on August 10, 2021.[22] He made his debut on October 21, 2021, in an 87–113 loss to the Atlanta Hawks, scoring three points.[23]

On June 24, 2022, Brown was traded alongside Boban Marjanović, Trey Burke, Marquese Chriss, and the draft rights to Wendell Moore Jr., to the Houston Rockets in exchange for Christian Wood.[24]

On September 30, 2022, Brown was traded, along with David Nwaba, Trey Burke, and Marquese Chriss, to the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for Derrick Favors, Ty Jerome, Maurice Harkless, Théo Maledon and a future second-round pick.[25] On October 2, Brown was waived by the Thunder.[26]

On December 17, 2022, Brown signed with Raptors 905 of the NBA G League.[27]

On January 6, 2023, Brown signed a ten-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers,[28] appearing in four games. On January 16, he was re-acquired by Raptors 905 after his contract with the Lakers expired.[29]

On August 15, 2023, Brown signed with Basketball Bundesliga and EuroLeague club Alba Berlin.[30]