With late father on mind, Jabari Brown chases NBA dream with Warriors
David’s encouraging words kept Brown focused on the ultimate objective: a lengthy NBA career.
“He’d help keep my mind in the right place,” said Brown, a shooting guard for his hometown Golden State Warriors’ Summer League team.
Over the next 20 months, as Jabari began the nomadic life of an undrafted free agent, he was inspired by how his dad slogged through chemotherapy cycles without complaint.
In that gymnasium at 2350 Broadway, David taught Jabari a pure shooting form: balanced frame, minimal follow-through, relaxed shoulders, spread fingers.
Trips to Oracle Arena for Warriors games were spent discussing how Jabari could incorporate aspects of NBA greats’ playing styles.
On Dec. 29, 2014, a day after he hit the go-ahead three-pointer in the closing minute of Missouri’s win at North Carolina State, Jabari returned to Oakland and learned his dad was in the hospital.
In 19 games with the Lakers the following season, he averaged 11.9 points and shot 43.5 percent from three-point range.
“The chance for him to come see me play meant a lot to me,” Jabari said.
Because when he got sick, I wasn’t sure if he’d ever get to come see me play.