What is Larry Brown's Net Worth and Salary?
Larry Brown is an esteemed American basketball coach and former player with a net worth of $70 million. His legacy includes coaching numerous teams across the NBA and NCAA. Notably, Brown is the only coach in history to win both NBA and NCAA titles, and to lead eight different NBA teams to the playoffs. As a player, Brown clinched an Olympic gold medal at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Brown's playing career boasts an ABA Championship, three ABA All-Star selections, an All-Star MVP, and an All-ABA Second Team honor. He began his coaching career as an assistant at North Carolina before securing his first head coaching role with the Carolina Cougars of the ABA. Brown's journey includes coaching stints with the Denver Nuggets (ABA and NBA), UCLA Bruins, and New Jersey Nets. His college coaching credentials are highlighted by his tenure at Kansas Jayhawks, where he led them to an NCAA Championship. Brown's NBA coaching career spans teams like the San Antonio Spurs, Los Angeles Clippers, Indiana Pacers, Philadelphia 76ers, Detroit Pistons, New York Knicks, and Charlotte Bobcats. From 2012 to 2016, he guided Southern Methodist University.
Salary and Career Earnings
Adjusting for inflation, Larry Brown's career earnings surpass $150 million. Between 2003 and 2006, he earned $45.5 million coaching the Pistons and The Knicks, which amounts to $187,000 per game coached.
He notably earned $28.5 million coaching The Knicks for just 331 days.
Early Life and Education
Larry Brown was born on September 14, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, to a Jewish family. His older brother is named Herbert. His father, Milton, passed away during Brown's childhood. In his teen years, Brown attended Long Beach High School, where he played as a point guard. He then attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, playing for the Tar Heels under coaches Dean Smith and Frank McGuire.
Playing Career
Initially considered too small for the NBA, Brown began his post-collegiate basketball career with the Akron Wingfoots of the National AAU Basketball League, leading them to the AAU National Championship in his first year. Additionally, he played for the US at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics, securing a gold medal.
Brown served as an assistant coach at UNC before playing for multiple ABA teams including the New Orleans Buccaneers, Oakland Oaks, Washington Caps, Virginia Squires, and Denver Rockets. He finished his playing career as the all-time leader in assists in the ABA with 2,509.
Coaching Career (1969-1992)
Brown's coaching career began at Davidson College in 1969, followed by a stint with the ABA's Carolina Cougars (1972-1974). He then moved to the Denver Nuggets (1974-1979), during which the team transitioned from the ABA to the NBA. From 1979 to 1981, he coached UCLA, before a two-year tenure with the NBA's New Jersey Nets. Returning to college basketball, Brown rescued the Kansas Jayhawks, leading them from two consecutive losing seasons to an NCAA Championship title by 1988. He then returned to the NBA to coach the San Antonio Spurs, leading them to two Midwest Division titles until his firing in 1992.
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Coaching Career (1992-Present)
Shortly after his firing from the Spurs, Brown became the head coach of the Los Angeles Clippers, leading them to their first winning season and playoff appearances since coming to LA. His success continued with the Indiana Pacers, whom he led to two conference finals. In 2001, he coached the Philadelphia 76ers to the NBA Finals. Brown then led the Detroit Pistons to an NBA Championship title in 2004, and coached the US men's basketball team to a bronze medal at the Athens Olympics.
Brown's career continued with the New York Knicks, where he recorded his 1,000th NBA coaching win. However, a poor season and internal conflict led to his firing. He then coached the Charlotte Bobcats to their first-ever playoff appearance, before a disappointing start led to his departure. His collegiate coaching resumed at Southern Methodist University, guiding them to their first NCAA Tournament in over two decades, before resigning amid controversy. Internationally, he coached Italy's Auxilium Torino and later joined the University of Memphis as an assistant coach in 2021.
