Barry Brown, the former Kansas State guard, was named MVP of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) Finals on Tuesday after leading the Zhejiang Lions to a 4-2 series win over the Beijing Ducks.
Brown poured in 41 points and dished out nine assists in Game 6, capping off a dominant performance that included a CBA Finals-record 44 points in Game 3.
Zhejiang led 69-57 at halftime in Game 6, holding off Beijing in the second half to secure the title.
“We’ve had our ups and downs this season, but we’ve matured along the way,” said Zhejiang head coach Wang Bo, speaking to People’s Daily. “We were eager to win at home in Game 5, but didn’t adjust our mentality. Tonight, we trusted ourselves and earned the win with unity.”
The championship marked the first in the 20-year history of the Zhejiang Lions.
At Kansas State, Brown was known for his defensive ability and versatility, averaging 12.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.5 assists in his career. He was named Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year and earned First-Team All-Big 12 honors.
In his junior season, Brown led the Wildcats to an Elite Eight appearance, averaging 15.9 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 3.1 assists. He delivered in clutch moments, including scoring 13 points in a Sweet 16 win over Kentucky, capped by a game-winning layup.
In China, Brown averaged 28 points and 5.9 assists per game this season, proving himself as one of the league’s top players.
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