OKC Thunder: Moses Brown’s improbable climb to the NBA
By Ryan Lewis
Moses Brown hasn’t had a real chance to shine in the NBA, at least not yet. But the opportunity he needs could be right around the corner if his G League play indicates the type of player he will be for the OKC Thunder.
Brown is not exactly an unknown player, although this season might be the first in which Thunder fans have heard his name. Anybody familiar with him probably knows him from his college days at UCLA, where he played just one season before declaring for the draft.
At UCLA, Brown played in 32 games, averaging 9.7 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 60.7 percent from the field. His play earned him Pac-12 All-Freshman honors.
There also may be some who know him from his one year in Portland. Brown was signed to the Trail Blazers on a two-way contract after going undrafted in the 2019 NBA Draft. He appeared in only nine games and saw 33 total minutes of court time.
His time in Portland didn’t produce much.
When he wasn’t with the Trail Blazers, he was with the G League’s Texas Legends. His lack of production allowed him to live in relative obscurity. There hasn’t been a lot of media attention surrounding him. He’s kept a low profile since coming to the NBA, and so far, he has struggled to earn meaningful minutes on an NBA court.
He’s now with the OKC Thunder after signing a two-way contract on Dec. 8, 2020. Oklahoma City has been a place where players have been able to rejuvenate their careers. Chris Paul, Al Horford and George Hill can attest to that. Oklahoma City has also developed players like Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook, James Harden and Steven Adams.
Is Brown next?
OKC Thunder Moses Brown’s potential was on display in the preseason
There’s a lot of upside to Brown. He’s a 7-foot 2-inch, 245-pound center with agility not often seen in players his size. He’s got the build to be a star center in the NBA, but how well does it translate to his capabilities on the court?
Brown played in two of the Thunder’s three preseason games. Against the Spurs, Brown went scoreless in three minutes of action.
Against the Bulls, Brown showed his true potential.
Brown made people take notice in the Thunder’s 124-103 loss to the Bulls. In just 10 minutes, Brown scored 12 points, making five of his six shots. He could have finished the game with 15 points, but he missed three of his five free throws.
With his performance against the Bulls, the seed was planted. Brown had potential, but could the OKC Thunder take that potential and turn him into a superstar as they had with so many players before him?
With the preseason shortened due to the season’s late start, Brown didn’t get another opportunity to play minutes in games that didn’t matter. That kept him from replicating his performance against the Bulls, but that one game piqued Thunder fans’ interest.