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Kevin Braswell

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Kevin Braswell
Personal information
Born(1979-01-23)January 23, 1979[1][2]
Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.
DiedFebruary 24, 2025(2025-02-24) (aged 46)
Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan
Listed height188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Listed weight86 kg (190 lb)
Career information
High school
CollegeGeorgetown (1998–2002)
NBA draft2002: undrafted
Playing career2002–2016
PositionPoint guard
Coaching career2016–2025
Career history
As player:
2002Tournai Estaimpuis
2003Spójnia Stargard Szczeciński
2003–2004Cimberio Aironi Novara
2004–2005Florida Flame
2005Columbus Riverdragons
2005Pınar Karşıyaka
2005Kolossos Rodou
2006Metros de Santiago
2006–2007Standart Samara reg. Toliatti
2007–2008Selçuk Üniversitesi
2008HKK Široki
2008–2009Cholet Basket
2009Barak Netanya
2010–2011New Zealand Breakers
2010Limoges CSP
2011–2015Southland Sharks
2012Melbourne Tigers
2016Wellington Saints
As coach:
2016–2018Wellington Saints
2018–2019New Zealand Breakers
2020Auckland Huskies
2021–2023Akita Northern Happinets (assistant)
2023–2024Utsunomiya Brex (assistant)
2024–2025Utsunomiya Brex
Career highlights and awards
As player:

As coach:

Kevin Levelle Braswell[3] (January 23, 1979 – February 24, 2025) was an American professional basketball player and coach. He played four years of college basketball for the Georgetown Hoyas between 1998 and 2002 before playing professionally for 14 years. He most notably played in New Zealand, where he won a championship in the Australian National Basketball League with the New Zealand Breakers in 2011. That year, he won the NBL Best Sixth Man Award. He later played for the Southland Sharks in the New Zealand National Basketball League, where he won NZNBL championships in 2013 and 2015. He began his coaching career in 2016 and coached in New Zealand and Japan. He served as head coach of the Utsunomiya Brex in the Japanese B.League during the 2024–25 season.

Early life

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Braswell was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended Lake Clifton Eastern High School.[4] He then had a prep season at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine.[4]

College career

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Braswell played four years of college basketball for the Georgetown Hoyas between 1998 and 2002. He finished his career at Georgetown ranking seventh all time in scoring (1,735). His 1,569 field goal attempts were more than all but two players in school history (Eric Floyd and Reggie Williams).[4] He set the all time record for 3-pointers (189), which was broken in December 2007 by Jonathan Wallace.[5] Braswell was also first at Georgetown in career assists (695) and steals (349).[6][7] He was named Third Team All-Big East as a senior and Second Team as a junior, and was named to the Big East All-Rookie Team as a freshman.[6] He started in all 128 of his games for the Hoyas, averaging 13.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 2.7 steals per game.[4][8]

Professional career

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Braswell began his professional career splitting the 2002–03 season in Belgium with Tournai Estaimpuis and in Poland with Spójnia Stargard Szczeciński.[9] For the 2003–04 season, he moved to Italy to play for Cimberio Aironi Novara.[9] In 2004–05, Braswell split the NBDL season with the Florida Flame and Columbus Riverdragons. He finished the season in Turkey with Pınar Karşıyaka.[9]

In July 2005, Braswell played for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Summer League.[10] He later signed with the Miami Heat on October 3, 2005,[7] but was waived on October 12 after appearing in one preseason game.[11] He subsequently returned to Europe and played seven games for Greek team Kolossos Rodou before leaving in December 2005.[9]

In September 2006, Braswell helped Metros de Santiago win the LNB championship.[12]

For the 2006–07 season, Braswell moved to Russia to play for Standart Samara reg. Toliatti.[9] For the 2007–08 season, he returned to Turkey to play for Selçuk Üniversitesi.[9]

Braswell began the 2008–09 season in Bosnia with HKK Široki before playing out the season in France after joining Cholet Basket in December 2008.[9]

In the 2009–10 season, Braswell began with playing eight games in Israel with Barak Netanya between October 25 and December 14.[9] On January 12, 2010, he signed with the New Zealand Breakers for the last seven games of the 2009–10 NBL season.[13] Following the conclusion of the Breakers' season, Braswell returned to Europe and joined French team Limoges CSP.[14]

After initially signing with Turkish team Aliağa Belediyesi SK for the 2010–11 season,[15] Braswell instead returned to New Zealand and joined the Breakers for the NBL season.[16] In April 2011, he helped the Breakers win the NBL championship.[17] He was subsequently named the NBL Best Sixth Man.[18]

In May 2011, Braswell joined the Southland Sharks for the 2011 New Zealand NBL season.[19] However, just six games into the season, he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury which required surgery.[20] He had never previously experienced a serious injury in his basketball career.[20]

With Braswell still on the comeback trail from injury, the Breakers decided to move in a different direction for the 2011–12 season.[20] He received interest from several other Australian NBL clubs, but a contract failed to materialise, which saw him sign with the Sharks for the 2012 season.[20]

On August 16, 2012, Braswell signed with the Melbourne Tigers for the 2012–13 NBL season.[21] However, on November 5, 2012, he was released by the Tigers after playing hurt over the first five games.[22][23]

Braswell returned to the Southland Sharks for the 2013 New Zealand NBL season[24] and helped lead them to the championship.[25] He returned to the Sharks in 2014[26] and had a 45-point effort in his 50th game.[27]

Returning to Southland for a fifth season in 2015,[28] Braswell helped the Sharks win their second title in three years.[29] He retired from professional basketball following the 2015 season,[30] with the Sharks retiring his No. 12 jersey.[31] In 78 career games for the Sharks, he averaged 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game.[32]

Coaching career

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On August 3, 2015, Braswell was appointed head coach of the Wellington Saints for the 2016 New Zealand NBL season.[33][34] On April 15, 2016, he came out of retirement for a one-game stint, helping his depleted Saints in a 97–72 loss to the Canterbury Rams.[35][36] He went on to guide the Saints to the championship in his first season as coach.[37]

In 2017, Braswell guided the Saints to back-to-back titles behind an undefeated 20–0 campaign and New Zealand NBL Coach of the Year honours.[38][39] He returned to Wellington for a third and final season in 2018,[40][41] leading the Saints to a third straight grand final where they lost to the Southland Sharks.[42]

On April 16, 2018, Braswell was appointed head coach of the New Zealand Breakers on a three-year deal.[43] However, he was released from his contract in June 2019 after completing just one season.[44][45]

In May 2020, Braswell was appointed head coach of the Auckland Huskies of the New Zealand NBL.[46] He parted ways with the Huskies following the 2020 season.[47]

On June 25, 2021, Braswell was appointed assistant coach of the Akita Northern Happinets in the Japanese B.League.[48] In the 2022–23 season, he served as associate coach and acting head coach of the Happinets.[49]

On July 4, 2023, Braswell was appointed associate coach of the Utsunomiya Brex for the 2023–24 season.[49] He was elevated to head coach of the Utsunomiya Brex for the 2024–25 season.[50]

Personal life and death

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Braswell's immediate family included his mother, Millicent Boone, and his younger brother, James Boone.[51]

Braswell underwent emergency heart surgery in Japan on January 17, 2025.[52] He remained in a hospital in Utsunomiya, but died on February 24, at the age of 46.[53]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Kevin Braswell (1998-2002)". The Georgetown Basketball History Project. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  2. ^ "Kevin Braswell International Stats". Basketball Reference. Retrieved February 26, 2025.
  3. ^ "Kevin Levelle Braswell () – Basketball Stats, Height, Age". FIBA Basketball. Retrieved February 25, 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d "Georgetown Basketball History: The Top 100 – 28. Kevin Braswell". hoyabasketball.com. Archived from the original on November 30, 2012.
  5. ^ "Georgetown closes non-conference schedule with romp past Fordham". ESPN.com. December 31, 2007. Archived from the original on March 19, 2017. Retrieved May 15, 2020. Wallace became the Hoyas' career leader in 3-pointers made, breaking the record of 189 set by Kevin Braswell from 1998–2002...
  6. ^ a b "Kevin Braswell". NBA.com. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  7. ^ a b "HEAT Sign Darius Rice and Kevin Braswell". NBA.com. October 3, 2005. Retrieved May 15, 2020. He is currently the school's eighth leading scorer (1,735 points) and his 695 assists and 349 steals ranks first in school history.
  8. ^ "Kevin Braswell College Stats". Sports-Reference.com. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h "Kevin Braswell". australiabasket.com. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  10. ^ "Summer Leagues – Roster, Schedules and Scores". NBA.com. July 8, 2005. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  11. ^ "HEAT Waive Kevin Braswell". NBA.com. October 12, 2005. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  12. ^ "LNB 2006". latinbasket.com. Archived from the original on December 10, 2014. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  13. ^ "Breakers recruit American guard". tvnz.co.nz. January 12, 2010. Archived from the original on January 14, 2010.
  14. ^ "Kevin Braswell signs for Limoges CSP". sportando.com. February 23, 2010. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015.
  15. ^ "Aliaga inks Kevin Braswell". sportando.com. July 3, 2010. Archived from the original on June 21, 2015.
  16. ^ "Braswell completes Breakers roster". tvnz.co.nz. September 1, 2010. Archived from the original on September 8, 2010.
  17. ^ "Breakers seal maiden NBL title". ABC.net.au. April 29, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  18. ^ "Basketball: Braswell gets an idea of what NZ teams face". odt.co.nz. April 5, 2011. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  19. ^ Egan, Brendon (May 6, 2011). "Sharks snare Breakers star for NBL season". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  20. ^ a b c d Egan, Brendon (December 14, 2011). "Fully fit Kevin Braswell has a point to prove". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  21. ^ Gould, Russell (August 16, 2012). "Melbourne Tigers sign former New Zealand point guard Kevin Braswell". News.com.au. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  22. ^ "Braswell released.. Flynn in". andthefoul.net. November 5, 2012. Archived from the original on April 13, 2013.
  23. ^ Gould, Russell (November 5, 2012). "Jonny Flynn to replace Kevin Braswell at Melbourne Tigers". heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  24. ^ Egan, Brendon (October 25, 2012). "Sharks re-sign Braswell and nab Natanahira". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  25. ^ Worthington, Sam (July 15, 2013). "Hungry Sharks claim unlikely NBL title". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  26. ^ Savory, Logan (September 10, 2013). "Braswell back in Shark skin". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  27. ^ Savory, Logan (June 4, 2014). "Kevin Braswell delivers on promises at Sharks". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  28. ^ Savory, Logan (July 3, 2014). "Braswell re-signs with Sharks for another year". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  29. ^ Savory, Logan (July 6, 2015). "Southland Sharks players keen to return to defend National Basketball League title". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  30. ^ Savory, Logan (June 19, 2015). "Southland Sharks guard Kevin Braswell announces his retirement". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  31. ^ Savory, Logan (June 28, 2015). "Southland Sharks retire Kevin Braswell's No 12 jersey". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  32. ^ "Player statistics for Kevin Braswell". foxsportspulse.com. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
  33. ^ Hyslop, Liam; Savory, Logan (August 3, 2015). "Kevin Braswell signs two-year coaching contract with the Wellington Saints". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  34. ^ Anderson, Niall (August 3, 2015). "Braswell Appointed As New Saints Coach". nzhoops.co.nz. Archived from the original on January 22, 2016.
  35. ^ "Saints vs Rams". fibalivestats.com. April 15, 2016. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
  36. ^ Hyslop, Liam (April 15, 2016). "Canterbury Rams hammer depleted Wellington Saints by 25 points". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  37. ^ Savory, Logan (June 5, 2016). "Kevin Braswell's rapid rise from star player to title winning coach". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  38. ^ Anderson, Niall (June 17, 2017). "Basketball: Wellington Saints complete perfect NBL season". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  39. ^ "SAINTS CREATE HISTORY CLAIMING THEIR TENTH TITLE". Basketball.org.nz. June 17, 2017. Archived from the original on January 26, 2019.
  40. ^ Hyslop, Liam (August 17, 2017). "Kevin Braswell re-signed by Wellington Saints, but will he have a team to coach?". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  41. ^ "Kevin Braswell to return". saints.co.nz. August 17, 2017. Archived from the original on August 17, 2017.
  42. ^ "SHARKS CLAIM THIRD TITLE WITH GUTSY WIN OVER DEFENDING CHAMPION SAINTS". nznbl.basketball. August 6, 2018. Retrieved August 6, 2018.
  43. ^ "Former player Kevin Braswell named as head coach of NZ Breakers". Stuff.co.nz. April 16, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
  44. ^ Hinton, Marc (June 1, 2019). "Breakers go for Israeli Dan Shamir as new coach to replace Kevin Braswell – report". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  45. ^ "Breakers Sign Scotty Hopson, Change Coaching Structure". NBL.com.au. July 31, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2020. The new structure has resulted in Head Coach Kevin Braswell leaving the club last month.
  46. ^ "AUCKLAND HUSKIES – AUSTRALIAN OWNERS LAUNCH NEW SAL'S NBL TEAM". nznbl.basketball. May 15, 2020. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  47. ^ "AUCKLAND HUSKIES LOCK IN 2021 COACHING STAFF". nznbl.basketball. November 16, 2020. Retrieved November 16, 2020.
  48. ^ "【新加入】チームスタッフ契約合意のお知らせ". northern-happinets.com (in Japanese). June 25, 2021. Retrieved June 25, 2021.
  49. ^ a b "チームスタッフ加入のお知らせ". utsunomiyabrex.com (in Japanese). July 4, 2023. Retrieved July 4, 2023.
  50. ^ "【スタッフ】ケビン・ブラスウェル氏 ヘッドコーチ就任". utsunomiyabrex.com (in Japanese). June 5, 2024. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  51. ^ Savory, Logan (June 26, 2015). "Sharks veteran Kevin Braswell to play for his mum in final game in Invercargill". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  52. ^ Odeven, Ed (January 20, 2025). "B.League All-Star Game Defined by Endless Array of 3-Pointers | SportsLook". Retrieved February 24, 2025.
  53. ^ "訃報のお知らせ". 宇都宮ブレックス. February 24, 2025. Retrieved February 24, 2025.
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