Hornets Re-Sign PJ Brown
New Orleans (July 16, 2003) - The New Orleans Hornets announced they have re-signed forward P.J. Brown. Per team policy, terms of the contract were not released.
Brown averaged 10.7 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting a career-high 53.1 percent from the field in 2002-03.
“P.J. is one of the most important pieces to making our team a championship contender and our owners continue to step up and allow us the financial support to keep our key nucleus of players together,” said Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Bob Bass. “He does so many things for our club that help us win, which is why re-signing him was such a key focus for us this summer.”
Brown finished the season ranked fourth in the league in field goal percentage, seventh in offensive rebounding and 10th in overall rebounding and was the only player in the NBA to shoot over 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line. He recorded 15 double-doubles on the year (the Hornets were 15-5 when he did so) and led the team in rebounding 36 times.
“We were determined to have P.J. remain a member of the Hornets and help us in our goal of reaching the NBA Finals,” said Hornets Majority Owner/Managing General Partner George Shinn. “And as important as it was for us to have him remain as one the most vital parts of our team, it was also important to have him remain as one of the most outstanding members of this community.”
Brown, who makes his offseason home in Slidell, was named the 2003 Central Division winner of the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award and was honored with the NBA’s Community Assist Award for the month of September. He also served as the Hornets’ spokesman for their Rebound for Charity program during the 2002-03 season.
The Hornets originally acquired Brown along with Jamal Mashburn, Otis Thorpe, Rodney Buford and Tim James from Miami in exchange for Eddie Jones, Anthony Mason, Ricky Davis and Dale Ellis on Aug. 1, 2000. He has averaged 9.1 points and 9.4 rebounds in his three seasons with the Hornets.
Brown averaged 10.7 points and 9.0 rebounds while shooting a career-high 53.1 percent from the field in 2002-03.
“P.J. is one of the most important pieces to making our team a championship contender and our owners continue to step up and allow us the financial support to keep our key nucleus of players together,” said Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations/General Manager Bob Bass. “He does so many things for our club that help us win, which is why re-signing him was such a key focus for us this summer.”
Brown finished the season ranked fourth in the league in field goal percentage, seventh in offensive rebounding and 10th in overall rebounding and was the only player in the NBA to shoot over 50 percent from the field and 80 percent from the free throw line. He recorded 15 double-doubles on the year (the Hornets were 15-5 when he did so) and led the team in rebounding 36 times.
“We were determined to have P.J. remain a member of the Hornets and help us in our goal of reaching the NBA Finals,” said Hornets Majority Owner/Managing General Partner George Shinn. “And as important as it was for us to have him remain as one the most vital parts of our team, it was also important to have him remain as one of the most outstanding members of this community.”
Brown, who makes his offseason home in Slidell, was named the 2003 Central Division winner of the NBA’s Sportsmanship Award and was honored with the NBA’s Community Assist Award for the month of September. He also served as the Hornets’ spokesman for their Rebound for Charity program during the 2002-03 season.
The Hornets originally acquired Brown along with Jamal Mashburn, Otis Thorpe, Rodney Buford and Tim James from Miami in exchange for Eddie Jones, Anthony Mason, Ricky Davis and Dale Ellis on Aug. 1, 2000. He has averaged 9.1 points and 9.4 rebounds in his three seasons with the Hornets.
