Beyond the Legends: Five Forgotten Faces in Philadelphia 76ers History

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Nov 27, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Kwame Brown (54) during the fourth quarter against the Dallas Mavericks at the Wachovia Center. The Sixers defeated the Mavericks 100-98. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

Drafted number one overall by the Washington Wizards, Kwame Brown’s career was plagued with inconsistency and lackluster play right from the start. Faced with high expectations as Michael Jordan’s first draft pick with the Wizards, the 6’11 power forward was never able to play up to the level that scouts saw coming out of Glynn Academy High School. He was criticized heavily by analysts all across the sports world, most notably Stephen A. Smith, and was labeled as one of the biggest busts of all time in the NBA.

While this is debatable due to his longevity throughout the league, there is no doubt that his career left much to be desired. Taken before stars such as Tony Parker, Pau Gasol, Joe Johnson, Zach Randolph, and Tyson Chandler in the same draft, Brown did not live up to the hype surrounding him at the time of his selection. He bounced around the league throughout 12 seasons, spending time with the Lakers, Pistons, Hornets, Warriors, and Grizzlies but failed to find sustainable success.

Brown ended his career with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2012, signing a two-year contract worth $6 million. His stint with the Sixers was ultimately forgettable, as he averaged just 1.9 points over 22 games (11 starts). In the second season of his contract, he was waived without even playing a game for the team. Shortly after, he announced his retirement from the NBA and went on to play in the Big 3 basketball league for a short time.