In a press conference at the MassMutual Center today, the Springfield Armor named former NBA player Dee Brown as Head Coach and Director of Basketball Operations and Kevin Whitted as Assistant Coach.
Brown, who enjoyed a distinguished 12-year NBA career that included eight seasons with the Boston Celtics, becomes the first head coach in Springfield Armor history. He also becomes the sixth former Celtics player to serve as a head coach in the NBA Development league, joining Dennis Johnson, Nate “Tiny” Archibald, Joe Wolf, Sam Vincent and Jay Humphries.
“To have Dee Brown as our first head coach is huge,” Springfield Armor Managing Partner Michael Savit said. “Not only is Dee thought of fondly throughout New England and beyond following his days with the Celtics, he also is a terrific mentor for young players and an all-around great ambassador for the sport. He is a perfect fit for our organization and for a city with such a rich basketball tradition.”
Brown played in 476 games as a member of the Celtics after they selected him 19th overall in the 1990 NBA Draft. Brown played in all 82 regular-season games during a spectacular rookie campaign that earned his selection to the NBA All-Rookie First Team in 1990-91. He averaged 8.7 points and 4.2 assists to help the Celtics win the NBA Atlantic Division with a 56-26 record that season. In 11 games during the 1991 playoffs, Brown averaged 12.2 points.
Amid his rookie season, Brown gained national acclaim after emerging the Slam Dunk champion during the 1991 NBA All-Star Weekend in Charlotte. The 6-1 Brown bested 6-10 Shawn Kemp in the finals with a unique “no-look” dunk, in which he draped his right arm over his eyes in mid-air and slammed the ball with his left.
“I am grateful for this opportunity to return to Massachusetts, where I have many wonderful memories from my playing career,” Brown said. “I look forward to working with the talented, young players that will wear the Armor uniform and to making this new NBA D-League team in Springfield a winner.”
