Champion Coach Guides United

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

Brett Brown has returned to Melbourne and run a skills session with United's emerging guard crop.

While he may have been born in Maine and plied his trade as a coach in the NBA since 2007, Brett Brown is one of Australian basketball’s favourite sons – and the former North Melbourne and Sydney coach has returned to Victoria to impart his knowledge at United.

Brown began his coaching career with Altos Auckland in 1988, before crossing the Tasman to become an assistant coach with the Tigers from 1988-1993, where a then 19-year-old Dean Vickerman earned a roster spot in 1990.

Photos: Melbourne United Media

He added an NBL title and Coach of the Year award to his resume in 1994 with North Melbourne, before departing the NBL in 2002.

“The history I have had in Australia and Melbourne especially – and Dean Vickerman back in the late 80s – is real, and has been a big part of my basketball evolution,” Brown told MU Media.

“It’s been a treat coming in here and I’m always happy to help Dean and excited to come back to Melbourne.”

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The bulk of Brown’s work with Melbourne was conducted with New Zealand international pair Shea Ili and Flynn Cameron, who have both been named to the Tall Blacks’ extended squad for the upcoming FIBA World Cup.

New Zealand has been drawn alongside the USA, Jordan and Greece in the group stage of the tournament.