Mizzou’s Kobe Brown gets drafted by the Clippers in first round of NBA Draft

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Former Mizzou hoops standout Kobe Brown is headed to Los Angeles. The Clippers selected Brown with the No. 30 overall pick in the first round of the 2023 NBA Draft.

Brown spent draft night in his hometown of Huntsville, Alabama, with family and friends. He said that his agent called him first, then the Clippers, but it finally sunk in when he heard his name on TV.

"I couldn't help but cry," he said, "It was a surreal moment, for sure."

Brown is the first Tiger to hear their name called in the Draft since 2018, when the Denver Nuggets drafted Columbia-native Michael Porter Jr. Since 2000, there have been 10 MU alums drafted to the league and more than 50 players in the school's history.

"Hopefully it lets players know, like high caliber players, know that Mizzou is no slouch. It's a great place to be," Brown said. "You can fulfill your dreams at Mizzou, for sure. Hopefully, it brings out the best players in the country and hopefully Mizzou keeps growing and, you know, becomes that powerhouse, like it used to be."

You can find a full list of some of the most recent former Mizzou players to be drafted below.

• 2018: Michael Porter Jr. - first round to Denver Nuggets
• 2014: Jordan Clarkson - second round to Washington Wizards (traded to Los Angeles Lakers)
• 2013: Alex Oriakhi - second round to Phoenix Suns (traded to Sacramento Kings)
• 2012: Kim English - second round to Detroit Pistons
• 2012: Marcus Denmon - second round to San Antonio Spurs
• 2009: DeMarre Carroll - first round to Memphis Grizzlies
• 2005: Linas Kleiza - first round to Portland Trail Blazers (traded to Denver Nuggets)
• 2004: Ricky Paulding - second round to Detroit Pistons
• 2002: Kareem Rush - first round to Toronto Raptors (traded to Los Angles Lakers)
• 2000: Keyon Dooling - first round to Orlando Magic (traded to Los Angels Clippers)

Brown, a 6-foot-8 forward, worked out with several teams ahead of the NBA Draft, including the Lakers, Pacers, Wizards and more.

Brown was one of the most beloved Tiger hoops players in quite some time, as he stuck around through a coaching change and quite a few ups and downs in the program. In his senior season, he cemented his spot in the MU record books. He led Mizzou in scoring and rebounding for the second-straight season. Brown also ranked second on the team in assists and shot about 45 percent from 3-point range, which ranks sixth in school history.

His first three seasons in a Tiger uniform came under former head coach Cuonzo Martin. He saw a few bumps in the road, as his first season with MU came with a 15-16 overall record. In his three years under Martin, the team went 43-47. However, things changed when Mizzou Athletics Director Desiree Reed-Francois hired former Cleveland State head coach Dennis Gates.

Brown stuck with Gates in his debut season in Columbia, instead of hitting the transfer portal, like many of his teammates had. In Gates' first season, Brown helped them to a 25-10 record, the first SEC Tournament semifinal appearance in program history, the team's first NCAA Tournament win in 13 years and a record-breaking amount of sellout games at Mizzou Arena.

The Huntsville, Alabama-native was a unanimous All-SEC first team selection, following the 2022-23 season. He is just the second player in school history to earn that honor from both the coaches and the media.