From the school run to an NBL buzzer-beater

Less than two weeks after celebrating his 16th birthday, RJ Brown lived out a debut most players can only dream of.

The 36ers Development Player capped his first NBL game with a buzzer-beating three in front of a packed Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

It was a moment worthy of the game ball, and Bryce Cotton made sure it ended up in Brown’s hands.

“It was only right that we gave him the game ball because that’s something I’m sure he won’t forget, no matter what else he does throughout his career,” Cotton said on SEN SA.

“It’s crazy, every time you hear it, 16 years old. He’s just a baby.”

Brown came off the bench with a little over a minute left in the 36ers’ 28-point win over Illawarra. His first shot went in but was wiped off for a travel, but it didn’t take long for him to get another chance.

“He’s got so much potential and to be in that environment at that age, 10,000 people screaming and for him to have the poise to go for the shot two plays in a row … that just shows how he is mentally,” Cotton said.

36ers Head Coach Trevor Gleeson was just as excited for the emerging young gun.

“It was just one of those moments he’s going to remember for the rest of his life: his first game, 10,000 fans and then he hits a three on the buzzer,” Gleeson said.

Brown said the noise is what stuck with him.

“It was electric in the arena,” he told ABC Radio.

“My ears were ringing after, but it was cool, my teammates, everyone getting around me, and yeah, the arena was just electric and the fans were crazy.”

Off the court, Brown is balancing school with training, and he is even getting lifts to school from teammate Zylan Cheatham.

“I couldn’t imagine being 16 years old,” Cheatham said.

“What I was doing at 16 years old … I just couldn’t imagine being in the NBL right now.

“Unbelievable kid. Comes from an unbelievable family. Proud is an understatement. He’s like a little brother. You just kind of see him blooming every day and getting better, and he comes in with such a good mentality every day.”

Signed in September at just 15, Brown became the youngest player signed by an NBL club in 44 years, and Cotton believes his attitude will take him a long way.

“He’s a sponge. You can tell he’s always trying to learn,” he said.

Brown and the 36ers host Melbourne United at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Thursday night. Tip-off from 7:30pm AEDT, live on ESPN.