A 6'11" center out of Englewood Technical Prep Academy in Chicago, he played collegiate basketball for the University of Kansas, averaging a double-double of 11.9 ppg and 11.3 rpg in his senior season,[1] helping the Jayhawks to the Final Four in the 1971 NCAA University Division basketball tournament.

He quickly signed with the Carolina Cougars of the rival ABA, averaging 2.4 ppg in limited duty.

He spent 1973–74 with the San Antonio Spurs and the Virginia Squires in the ABA, but would sit out the 1974–75 season.

Brown started the 1975–76 season with the Denver Nuggets in the ABA, but would return to the NBA, signing with the Detroit Pistons in January 1976, and would spend the remainder of that season and the following 1977-78 season with Detroit, backing up All-Star Bob Lanier, and helping Detroit to two post-season playoff berths.

[3] He would then return to the NBA in 1979 with his hometown Chicago Bulls for a 4-game stint to finish his professional career.