Jim Brewer (basketball)
Encyclopedia
James Turner Brewer is a retired American
National Basketball Association
player. Brewer was the first notable player to come out of Proviso East High School
, which has one of the most successful high school basketball programs in Illinois. In 1969, Brewer, playing center, led his team to the first of four state championships. Brewer was followed at Proviso East by other future NBA players, notably Doc Rivers
, Michael Finley
, Dee Brown, and Shannon Brown
. The 6'9" 210 pound forward then attended the University of Minnesota
, where he was a teammate of future Baseball Hall-of-Famer
Dave Winfield
. Brewer played in the 1972 Summer Olympics
, including the United States' controversial loss to the Soviet Union, before being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers
in the first round (2nd pick) of the 1973 NBA Draft
. When Brewer scored a basket at a Cavaliers home game, the public address announcer would declare, "Two for the Brew!" Brewer played nine seasons in the NBA from 1973 to 1982. Then he played with Pallacanestro Cantù
in Italian
Serie A
along with players as Pierluigi Marzorati
and Antonello Riva
with coach Giancarlo Primo
. He won a Euroleague
and an Intercontinental Cup
.
Brewer is the uncle of former NBA player and current Boston Celtics
head coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers
.
In 2007, the Illinois High School Association
named Brewer one of the 100 Legends
of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
National Basketball Association
National Basketball Association
The National Basketball Association is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada...
player. Brewer was the first notable player to come out of Proviso East High School
Proviso East High School
Proviso East High School is a public secondary school in Maywood, Illinois which serves the educational needs of Maywood and three other villages within Proviso Township, Cook County, Illinois: Broadview, Forest Park and Melrose Park. It is the original campus of Proviso Township High Schools...
, which has one of the most successful high school basketball programs in Illinois. In 1969, Brewer, playing center, led his team to the first of four state championships. Brewer was followed at Proviso East by other future NBA players, notably Doc Rivers
Doc Rivers
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...
, Michael Finley
Michael Finley
Michael Howard Finley is a retired American professional basketball player. He last played for the Boston Celtics of the NBA.-High school career:...
, Dee Brown, and Shannon Brown
Shannon Brown
Shannon Brown is an American professional basketball player who plays at the shooting guard and point guard positions. He last played in the National Basketball Association for the Los Angeles Lakers. Brown attended Proviso East High School in Maywood, Illinois, was named Illinois Mr...
. The 6'9" 210 pound forward then attended the University of Minnesota
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
, where he was a teammate of future Baseball Hall-of-Famer
National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is an American history museum and hall of fame, located at 25 Main Street in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests serving as the central point for the study of the history of baseball in the United States and beyond, the display of...
Dave Winfield
Dave Winfield
David Mark Winfield is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder. He is currently Executive Vice President/Senior Advisor of the San Diego Padres and an analyst for the ESPN program Baseball Tonight...
. Brewer played in the 1972 Summer Olympics
1972 Summer Olympics
The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event held in Munich, West Germany, from August 26 to September 11, 1972....
, including the United States' controversial loss to the Soviet Union, before being drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cleveland Cavaliers are a professional basketball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They began playing in the National Basketball Association in 1970 as an expansion team...
in the first round (2nd pick) of the 1973 NBA Draft
1973 NBA Draft
The 1973 NBA Draft was the 27th annual draft of the National Basketball Association . The draft was held on April 24, 1973 before the 1973–74 season. In this draft, 17 NBA teams took turns selecting amateur U.S. college basketball players and other eligible players, including international players...
. When Brewer scored a basket at a Cavaliers home game, the public address announcer would declare, "Two for the Brew!" Brewer played nine seasons in the NBA from 1973 to 1982. Then he played with Pallacanestro Cantù
Pallacanestro Cantù
Pallacanestro Cantù is an Italian League professional basketball club that is based in Cantù. For sponsorship reasons, it is also known as Bennet Cantù, after Bennet, an Italian supermarket chain. For past club sponsorship names, see the list below...
in Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
Serie A
Serie A (basketball)
Lega Basket Serie A is the highest level club competition in Italian professional basketball where play determines the national champion. The season consists of a home-and-away schedule of 30 games, followed by an eight-team playoff round. Quarterfinals and semifinals series are best-of-five, and...
along with players as Pierluigi Marzorati
Pierluigi Marzorati
Pierluigi Marzorati is an Italian former basketball player who won the silver medal with Italy at the 1980 Summer Olympics in Moscow, the title in the 1983 European Championship, plus three bronze medals at the 1971, 1975 and 1985 European Championships.Marzorati eventually played 278 matches for...
and Antonello Riva
Antonello Riva
Antonello Riva is an Italian retired basketball player. Nicknamed "Nembo Kid", he started playing basketball in 1977-78....
with coach Giancarlo Primo
Giancarlo Primo
Giancarlo Primo was an Italian basketball player and coach.As a player for the Italian national team, he participated in the 1948 Olympics, 1947 European Championship and 1949 European Championship.After retiring as a player, he became an assistant coach for the Italian national team,...
. He won a Euroleague
Euroleague
Euroleague Basketball, commonly known as the Euroleague, is the highest level tier and most important professional club basketball competition in Europe, with teams from up to 18 different countries, members of FIBA Europe. For sponsorship reasons, for five seasons starting with 2010–2011, it is...
and an Intercontinental Cup
Intercontinental Cup (basketball)
The World Cup for Champion Clubs, commonly referred to as the Intercontinental Cup, was a basketball competition endorsed by FIBA to gather the best clubs from the federations affiliated to FIBA and to officially decide the best club of the world, contended mainly by the continents of higher...
.
Brewer is the uncle of former NBA player and current Boston Celtics
Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics are a National Basketball Association team based in Boston, Massachusetts. They play in the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference. Founded in 1946, the team is currently owned by Boston Basketball Partners LLC. The Celtics play their home games at the TD Garden, which...
head coach Glenn "Doc" Rivers
Doc Rivers
Glenn Anton "Doc" Rivers is a former professional basketball player and the current head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics. Rivers was known for his defense while playing in the NBA...
.
In 2007, the Illinois High School Association
Illinois High School Association
The Illinois High School Association is one of 521 state high school associations in the United States, designed to regulate competition in most interscholastic sports and some interscholastic activities at the high school level. It is a charter member of the National Federation of State High...
named Brewer one of the 100 Legends
100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament
During the 2007 annual Illinois High School Association's boys basketball tournament, the "100 Legends of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament" was announced. This announcement was made during the centennial celebration of America’s Original March Madness....
of the IHSA Boys Basketball Tournament.