UCLA Basketball: Ex-Bruins Big Flashes Two-Way Ability In Summer League

Can he find a long-term NBA home this season?

Former one-and-done Bruins center Moses Brown has long been a developmental project in the NBA, and despite accruing four years of pro experience he's still the same age (23) as many incoming league rookies.

A former Pac-12 All-Freshman Teamer with UCLA in 2018-19, Brown has bounced around quite a bit thus far, logging time for the Portland Trail Blazers, Oklahoma City Thunder, Dallas Mavericks, Los Angeles Clippers, and Brooklyn Nets over the last few seasons, while also suiting up for G League squads the Texas Legends, Oklahoma City Blue, Ontario Clippers, and Westchester Knicks. He was named to the All-NBA G League First Team while with the OKC Blue.

Across 128 total NBA contests, Brown holds averages of 5.5 points on 57.1% shooting from the floor (mostly around the rack), 5.2 boards, and 0.6 blocks in 12.4 minutes per. Playing for his various NBAGL clubs, he boasts averages of 15.5 points on 59.9% shooting, 10.1 boards and 1.5 blocks.

The 7'2" big man has enjoyed a splashy run of late with his Summer League NBA team, the Toronto Raptors. On Friday, he scored 14 points, pulled down nine rebounds, and blocked four shots in an 83-74 loss to the Chicago Bulls' offseason squad.

He still hopes to stick in a more permanent pro situation. The talent certainly seems to be there.

UCLA tweeted out this clip of an emphatic cutting Brown dunk off a dish from undrafted Kansas State point guard Markquis Nowell:

ICYMI on Friday, former UCLA center Moses Brown finished with 1️⃣4️⃣ points, 9️⃣ boards and 4️⃣ blocks with the @Raptors in the @NBASummerLeague.

🎥 via @Raptors | #NBABruins 🏀pic.twitter.com/uMeBvIk6Q5

— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) July 8, 2023

Brown served in a time of tumult for your UCLA Bruins, playing during Steve Alford's final season as head coach (he was replaced by interim head coach Murry Bartow midseason). The Bruins finished with a 17-16 record that year, and missed the NCAA Tournament for the second time in four seasons.

Now looking to succeed at the next level, the big man has got the athleticism and defense to at least be worth a gander as a deep-bench reserve. Our fingers are crossed that hell get that opportunity in 2023-24.