Memphis Grizzlies Sign Forward Andre Brown

MEMPHIS - July 20, 2007 — Memphis Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today the team has signed free agent forward Andre Brown to a contract. Per team policy, financial terms of the deal are not disclosed.

“We are pleased to add Andre Brown to the Grizzlies,” said Wallace. “Our assistant coach Gordie Chiesa coached Andre last season in Seattle and another of our assistant coaches, Dave Joerger, coached against him in the NBDL so we have insight into him not only as a player but also as a person. Andre has what the late, great, first GM of the Portland Trail Blazers, Stu Inman, used to refer to as "stickability." He has persevered and improved after leaving DePaul and playing abroad, in the NBDL and last season in the NBA with Seattle. Andre is hard working, an excellent teammate, hungry, rebounds well, and excels at running the floor. He is coming into his own as a player at this point in his career.”

The 6-9, 245-pound forward spent last season with the Seattle SuperSonics where he averaged 2.4 points, 1.9 rebounds and 7.1 minutes in 38 games played. Originally signed to a 10-day contract with the Sonics on January 5, he signed his second 10-day on January 15 before having his contract guaranteed for the remainder of the season. He finished the year with career-highs of 12 points (vs. Dallas 4/18), 5 rebounds (6 times) and 22 minutes (vs. Dallas, 4/18).

Brown began the 2006-07 season with the Sioux Falls Skyforce of the NBA D-League where he averaged 22.8 points and 10.8 rebounds in 16 games. He was named D-League Player of the Month for December after averaging 23.3 ppg and 11.2 rpg in 13 games.

Brown attended DePaul University, finishing his collegiate career ranked among the top ten on the Blue Demons’ all-time rebounding list and as the fourth-leading rebounder in Conference USA history. Prior to that, he was a McDonald's High School All-American at Chicago's Leo High School.