A 6'7" forward from North Carolina State, Brown was selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round of the 1989 NBA draft.

Brown was on the active roster of 12 different teams, which was an NBA record shared with Joe Smith, Jim Jackson, Tony Massenburg, and Ish Smith; until Ish played with the Denver Nuggets, his 13th team, in the 2022–23 season.

In addition to the NBA teams, Brown had stints in the Continental Basketball Association and Italy's Panna Firenze.

The CBA saw Brown play for the Grand Rapids Hoops in 1993 and Yakima Sun Kings in 1994 and 1995.

[4] On April 2, 2019, Brown was named head coach of the men's varsity basketball team at West Johnston High School in Benson, North Carolina.

[5] In April 2022, Brown was named head coach of the men's basketball team at St. Augustine's University in Raleigh, North Carolina.

[7] On December 5, three days after he was waived by the Cavaliers, Brown signed with the Los Angeles Lakers.

He played for the Grand Rapids Hoops until being traded to the Yakima Sun Kings along with Reggie Jordan during the 1993–94 season.

He averaged 21.3ppg and 5.5rpg in 31 games for the Sun Kings, and was a 1995 CBA All-Star, before getting called up to the Houston Rockets.

[11] On August 19, 1996, Brown, along with teammates Mark Bryant, Sam Cassell, and Robert Horry, were traded to the Phoenix Suns for Charles Barkley and a 1999 2nd-round pick.

[12] On December 4, 1996, Brown was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks for Darrin Hancock and a 1997 2nd-round draft pick.

[18] On January 29, Brown would return to the Cleveland Cavaliers, signing the first of two 10-day contracts with the team.