After the Toronto Raptors shocked the world by trading DeMar DeRozan to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard, the team signed Lorenzo Brown to a one-year contract.
Official: We've signed G Lorenzo Brown & F Chris Boucher
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) July 20, 2018
🔗 » https://t.co/1KcPPwYsJ3 pic.twitter.com/hLaGtz1MFW
From where he was born to what he brings to the table, here's what you need to know about the newest Raptor...
Background
Brown was born in Roswell, Georgia on Aug. 26, 1990.
🎂🎈 @Zo_Brown 🎈🎂 pic.twitter.com/iSI99lcMOR
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) August 26, 2018
247Sports ranked him 9th at his position and 29th nationally coming out of high school.
College Experience
Brown played college ball at North Carolina State University, where he averaged 11.6 points, 5.8 assists, 4.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game over three seasons.
Not only did he lead the Wolfpack to back-to-back NCAA Tournament appearances (2012, 2013), the 6-foot-5 guard was named third-team All-ACC as a sophomore and second-team All-ACC as a junior.
NBA Experience
Brown decided to forgo his senior season at NC State, and the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him with the 52nd pick in the 2013 NBA Draft.
He has since played a combined 77 games in the NBA for the Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, Phoenix Suns and Toronto Raptors.
G League Experience
Brown has spent most of his time since being drafted in the G League, suiting up for the Delaware 87ers, Springfield Armor and Grand Rapids Drive. He signed a two-way contract with the Toronto Raptors last summer, paving the way for him to spend most of the 2017-18 season with their G League affiliate, the Raptors 905.
Brown is coming off of a season in which he was named MVP by the G League's head coaches and general managers. With an average of 18.8 points, 8.9 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 1.8 steals per game, the 905 were 25-7 with him in the lineup.
🗣 MVP! MVP! MVP!
— Raptors 905 (@Raptors905) April 10, 2018
Congrats, @Zo_Brown! #RoadToTheSix pic.twitter.com/9jWF4oxUzq
His season-high came against the Rio Grande Valley Vipers on Dec. 5, when he scored 36 points on 15-for-26 shooting from the field. Brown also finished the game with 11 assists and 11 rebounds.
Brown helped the 905 make it to the G League Finals for the second consecutive season, but they were unable to defend their title.
Skills
Brown is a big guard who lives in the paint on offense and guards multiple positions on defense. He's never been known as an outside shooter, but he made 1.1 3-pointers per game with the 905 last season at a 33.3 percent clip.
A shooting guard growing up, Brown says he made the transition to being a point guard full-time in college.