Indiana Pacers wing Kendall Brown is healthy and back on the court

Brown missed several months after surgery earlier this year

Indiana Pacers wing Kendall Brown is back on the court practicing after having surgery in late February.

Brown had a procedure to address a right tibia stress fracture, which came just a few weeks after he was dealing with a stress reaction in the same tibia. The pain just wouldn't go away. His leg had been bothering him for a while, but he thought it was a muscle injury at first.

It was much different than that, and Brown had to rehab for a while. He said on Monday that he has been fully cleared for about three weeks, and he's participating in Summer League practices for the blue and gold now. "Leg's back to a hundred, I feel good out there. No real problems. Just glad to be back out here able to play," he said.

Brown is on the Pacers Summer League roster, and he will play in his first game action in nearly five months this coming weekend. He was disappointed to not finish out his rookie season healthy, but he became more mature and can now attack the summer exhibitions.

"The biggest challenge was just not being able to play and finish out the season," Brown said. "I've been getting my rhythm back the last couple months."

The athletic wing averaged 1.5 points and 1.0 rebounds per game in six NBA appearances last year. His best outing came in Golden State, where he had three points, five rebounds, and two assists against the Warriors. His potential was on display that night, a winning effort for the blue and gold.

Brown was on a two-way contract, so he spent time in the G League as well. There, he improved on a nearly game-by-game basis. His defense, especially, got better. He finished his campaign with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants with averages of 10.3 points and 4.9 rebounds per game across 16 appearances.

In his final outing of the season for Fort Wayne, Brown had 20 points, three rebounds, and four assists. He was beginning to put it all together just before surgery, which bodes well for his second season.

"Definitely a difference," Brown said of the change from year one to year two of his career. "Just having a sense of things, it's a lot better."

In Summer League, the six-foot-eight-inch forward will have a chance to prove that he is healthy and an improved player. He currently doesn't have a contract with Indiana, so he is fighting for either a two-way deal or a standard contract, if a trade comes.

"We still really feel good about Kendall Brown," President of Basketball Operations Kevin Pritchard said in April.

Last year, Brown averaged 9.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per game in Summer League play. The Pacers drafted him with the 48th overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft after trading away future picks to get him.

"It's been a blessing," the 20-year old said of being healthy. He has had no restrictions in practice so far.

The now-second year player has had a chance to connect with some new teammates, such as Jarace Walker, Isaiah Wong, Ben Sheppard, and Oscar Tshiebwe. Wong and Tshiebwe are on two-way deals, so they are following in Brown's footsteps from last season. Brown thinks that all of his new teammates are talented and has been impressed with their off-court fit.

If Brown gels with the Pacers new talents, and he himself looks good to go in Summer League, he could be back for a second go around with the blue and gold. And he feels healthy, which gives him a better chance to impress.

"You forget how it feels to be healthy sometimes... It feels great. I kinda missed that feeling," he said. The Pacers kick off Summer League play on Saturday.

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