Kevin Braswell

{{Short description|American basketball player and coach (1979–2025)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}

{{Infobox basketball biography

| image =

| caption =

| height_cm = 188

| weight_kg = 86

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1979|1|23}}{{cite web |title=Kevin Braswell (1998-2002) |url=https://www.hoyabasketball.com/players/k_braswell.htm |publisher=The Georgetown Basketball History Project|access-date=February 26, 2025}}{{cite web |title=Kevin Braswell International Stats |url=https://www.basketball-reference.com/international/players/kevin-braswell-1.html |work=Basketball Reference |access-date=February 26, 2025}}

| birth_place = Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2025|2|24|1979|1|23}}

| death_place = Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan

| high_school =

| college = Georgetown (1998–2002)

| draft_year = 2002

| career_start = 2002

| career_end = 2016

| career_position = Point guard

| coach_start = 2016

| coach_end = 2025

| years1 = 2002

| team1 = Tournai Estaimpuis

| years2 = 2003

| team2 = Spójnia Stargard Szczeciński

| years3 = 2003–2004

| team3 = Cimberio Aironi Novara

| years4 = 2004–2005

| team4 = Florida Flame

| years5 = 2005

| team5 = Columbus Riverdragons

| years6 = 2005

| team6 = Pınar Karşıyaka

| years7 = 2005

| team7 = Kolossos Rodou

| years8 = 2006

| team8 = Metros de Santiago

| years9 = 2006–2007

| team9 = Standart Samara reg. Toliatti

| years10 = 2007–2008

| team10 = Selçuk Üniversitesi

| years11 = 2008

| team11 = HKK Široki

| years12 = 2008–2009

| team12 = Cholet Basket

| years13 = 2009

| team13 = Barak Netanya

| years14 = 2010–2011

| team14 = New Zealand Breakers

| years15 = 2010

| team15 = Limoges CSP

| years16 = 2011–2015

| team16 = Southland Sharks

| years17 = 2012

| team17 = Melbourne Tigers

| years18 = 2016

| team18 = Wellington Saints

| cyears1 = 2016–2018

| cteam1 = Wellington Saints

| cyears2 = 2018–2019

| cteam2 = New Zealand Breakers

| cyears3 = 2020

| cteam3 = Auckland Huskies

| cyears4 = 2021–2023

| cteam4 = Akita Northern Happinets (assistant)

| cyears5 = 2023–2024

| cteam5 = Utsunomiya Brex (assistant)

| cyears6 = 2024–2025

| cteam6 = Utsunomiya Brex

| highlights =

As player:

As coach:

}}

Kevin Levelle Braswell{{cite web |title=Kevin Levelle Braswell () – Basketball Stats, Height, Age |url=https://www.fiba.basketball/en/players/142403-kevin-levelle-braswell |publisher=FIBA Basketball |access-date=February 25, 2025}} (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

Braswell was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, where he attended Lake Clifton Eastern High School.{{cite web|url=http://www.hoyabasketball.com/features/top100/k_braswell.htm|title=Georgetown Basketball History: The Top 100 – 28. Kevin Braswell|work=hoyabasketball.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130142838/http://www.hoyabasketball.com/features/top100/k_braswell.htm|archive-date=November 30, 2012}} He then had a prep season at Maine Central Institute in Pittsfield, Maine.

College career

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). He set the all time record for 3-pointers (189), which was broken in December 2007 by Jonathan Wallace.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=273650046|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319113328/http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/recap?gameId=273650046|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 19, 2017|title=Georgetown closes non-conference schedule with romp past Fordham|work=ESPN.com|date=December 31, 2007|access-date=May 15, 2020|quote=Wallace became the Hoyas' career leader in 3-pointers made, breaking the record of 189 set by Kevin Braswell from 1998–2002...}} Braswell was also first at Georgetown in career assists (695) and steals (349).{{cite web|url=http://archive.nba.com/draft2002/profiles/kevin_braswell.html|title=Kevin Braswell|work=NBA.com|access-date=May 15, 2020}}{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat_sign_rice_braswell_051003.html|title=HEAT Sign Darius Rice and Kevin Braswell|work=NBA.com|date=October 3, 2005|access-date=May 15, 2020|quote=He is currently the school's eighth leading scorer (1,735 points) and his 695 assists and 349 steals ranks first in school history.}} 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. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cbb/players/kevin-braswell-1.html|title=Kevin Braswell College Stats|work=Sports-Reference.com|access-date=May 15, 2020}}

Professional career

Braswell began his professional career splitting the 2002–03 season in Belgium with Tournai Estaimpuis and in Poland with Spójnia Stargard Szczeciński.{{cite web|url=https://basketball.australiabasket.com/player/Kevin_Braswell/New-Zealand/Wellington-Saints/23940|title=Kevin Braswell|work=australiabasket.com|access-date=May 15, 2020}} For the 2003–04 season, he moved to Italy to play for Cimberio Aironi Novara. In 2004–05, Braswell split the NBDL season with the Florida Flame and Columbus Riverdragons. He finished the season in Turkey with Pınar Karşıyaka.

In July 2005, Braswell played for the Toronto Raptors in the NBA Summer League.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/raptors/news/Raptors_Summer_Leagues__Roste-146297-71.html|title=Summer Leagues – Roster, Schedules and Scores|work=NBA.com|date=July 8, 2005|access-date=May 15, 2020}} He later signed with the Miami Heat on October 3, 2005, but was waived on October 12 after appearing in one preseason game.{{cite web|url=https://www.nba.com/heat/news/heat_waive_braswell_051012.html|title=HEAT Waive Kevin Braswell|work=NBA.com|date=October 12, 2005|access-date=May 15, 2020}} He subsequently returned to Europe and played seven games for Greek team Kolossos Rodou before leaving in December 2005.

In September 2006, Braswell helped Metros de Santiago win the LNB championship.{{cite web|url=https://www.latinbasket.com/Dominican-Republic/basketball-League-LNB_2006.asp|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141210080759/http://www.latinbasket.com/Dominican-Republic/basketball-League-LNB_2006.asp|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 10, 2014|title=LNB 2006|work=latinbasket.com|access-date=May 15, 2020}}

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

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.

In the 2009–10 season, Braswell began with playing eight games in Israel with Barak Netanya between October 25 and December 14. On January 12, 2010, he signed with the New Zealand Breakers for the last seven games of the 2009–10 NBL season.{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/basketball-news/breakers-recruit-american-guard-3328755|title=Breakers recruit American guard|work=tvnz.co.nz|date=January 12, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114202026/http://tvnz.co.nz/basketball-news/breakers-recruit-american-guard-3328755|archive-date=January 14, 2010}} Following the conclusion of the Breakers' season, Braswell returned to Europe and joined French team Limoges CSP.{{cite web|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/france/80125/kevin-braswell-signs-for-limoges-csp.html|title=Kevin Braswell signs for Limoges CSP|work=sportando.com|date=February 23, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621123931/http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/france/80125/kevin-braswell-signs-for-limoges-csp.html|archive-date=June 21, 2015}}

After initially signing with Turkish team Aliağa Belediyesi SK for the 2010–11 season,{{cite web|url=http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/turkey/82675/aliaga-inks-kevin-braswell.html|title=Aliaga inks Kevin Braswell|work=sportando.com|date=July 3, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150621123757/http://www.sportando.com/en/europe/turkey/82675/aliaga-inks-kevin-braswell.html|archive-date=June 21, 2015}} Braswell instead returned to New Zealand and joined the Breakers for the NBL season.{{cite web|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/basketball-news/braswell-completes-breakers-roster-3753179|title=Braswell completes Breakers roster|work=tvnz.co.nz|date=September 1, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100908080701/http://tvnz.co.nz/basketball-news/braswell-completes-breakers-roster-3753179|archive-date=September 8, 2010}} In April 2011, he helped the Breakers win the NBL championship.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-04-29/breakers-seal-maiden-nbl-title/2698814|title=Breakers seal maiden NBL title|work=ABC.net.au|date=April 29, 2011|access-date=November 8, 2017}} He was subsequently named the NBL Best Sixth Man.{{cite web|url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/basketball/basketball-braswell-gets-idea-what-nz-teams-face|title=Basketball: Braswell gets an idea of what NZ teams face|work=odt.co.nz|date=April 5, 2011|access-date=May 15, 2020}}

In May 2011, Braswell joined the Southland Sharks for the 2011 New Zealand NBL season.{{cite web|last=Egan|first=Brendon|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/4969169/Sharks-snare-Breakers-star-for-NBL-season|title=Sharks snare Breakers star for NBL season|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=May 6, 2011|access-date=May 15, 2020}} However, just six games into the season, he suffered a season-ending Achilles injury which required surgery.{{cite web|last=Egan|first=Brendon|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/6129297/Fully-fit-Kevin-Braswell-has-a-point-to-prove|title=Fully fit Kevin Braswell has a point to prove|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=December 14, 2011|access-date=May 15, 2020}} He had never previously experienced a serious injury in his basketball career.

With Braswell still on the comeback trail from injury, the Breakers decided to move in a different direction for the 2011–12 season. 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.

On August 16, 2012, Braswell signed with the Melbourne Tigers for the 2012–13 NBL season.{{cite web|last=Gould|first=Russell|url=http://www.news.com.au/sport/basketball/melbourne-tigers-sign-former-new-zealand-point-guard-kevin-braswell/story-fndkzqrr-1226451608786|title=Melbourne Tigers sign former New Zealand point guard Kevin Braswell|work=News.com.au|date=August 16, 2012|access-date=August 16, 2012}} However, on November 5, 2012, he was released by the Tigers after playing hurt over the first five games.{{cite web|url=http://andthefoul.net/archives/4815|title=Braswell released.. Flynn in|work=andthefoul.net|date=November 5, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130413155309/http://andthefoul.net/archives/4815|archive-date=April 13, 2013}}{{cite web|last=Gould|first=Russell|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/more-sports/jonny-flynn-to-replace-kevin-braswell-at-melbourne-tigers/story-e6frfglf-1226510604467|title=Jonny Flynn to replace Kevin Braswell at Melbourne Tigers|work=heraldsun.com.au|date=November 5, 2012|access-date=November 5, 2012}}

Braswell returned to the Southland Sharks for the 2013 New Zealand NBL season{{cite web|last=Egan|first=Brendon|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/7854233/Sharks-re-sign-Braswell-and-nab-Natanahira|title=Sharks re-sign Braswell and nab Natanahira|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=October 25, 2012|access-date=May 15, 2020}} and helped lead them to the championship.{{cite web|last=Worthington|first=Sam|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/8917874/Hungry-Sharks-claim-unlikely-NBL-title|title=Hungry Sharks claim unlikely NBL title|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=July 15, 2013|access-date=May 15, 2020}} He returned to the Sharks in 2014{{cite web|last=Savory|first=Logan|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/southland-times/sport/9144570/Braswell-back-in-Shark-skin|title=Braswell back in Shark skin|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=September 10, 2013|access-date=May 15, 2020}} and had a 45-point effort in his 50th game.{{cite web|last=Savory|first=Logan|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/10111655/Kevin-Braswell-delivers-on-promises-at-Sharks|title=Kevin Braswell delivers on promises at Sharks|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=June 4, 2014|access-date=May 15, 2020}}

Returning to Southland for a fifth season in 2015,{{cite web|last=Savory|first=Logan|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/10224802/Braswell-re-signs-with-Sharks-for-another-year/|title=Braswell re-signs with Sharks for another year|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=July 3, 2014|access-date=May 15, 2020}} Braswell helped the Sharks win their second title in three years.{{cite web|last=Savory|first=Logan|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/69993679/southland-sharks-players-keen-to-return-to-defend-national-basketball-league-title|title=Southland Sharks players keen to return to defend National Basketball League title|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=July 6, 2015|access-date=May 15, 2020}} He retired from professional basketball following the 2015 season,{{cite web|last=Savory|first=Logan|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/69553641/southland-sharks-guard-kevin-braswell-announces-his-retirement|title=Southland Sharks guard Kevin Braswell announces his retirement|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=June 19, 2015|access-date=May 15, 2020}} with the Sharks retiring his No. 12 jersey.{{cite web|last=Savory|first=Logan|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/69770559/southland-sharks-retire-kevin-braswells-no-12-jersey|title=Southland Sharks retire Kevin Braswell's No 12 jersey|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=June 28, 2015|access-date=May 15, 2020}} In 78 career games for the Sharks, he averaged 19.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 2.2 steals per game.{{cite web|url=http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=193540386&client=11-8336-114265-356729-23059885|title=Player statistics for Kevin Braswell|work=foxsportspulse.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924141859/http://www.foxsportspulse.com/team_info.cgi?action=PSTATS&pID=193540386&client=11-8336-114265-356729-23059885|archive-date=September 24, 2015}}

Coaching career

On August 3, 2015, Braswell was appointed head coach of the Wellington Saints for the 2016 New Zealand NBL season.{{cite web|last1=Hyslop|first1=Liam|last2=Savory|first2=Logan|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/70770839/kevin-braswell-signs-twoyear-coaching-contract-with-the-wellington-saints|title=Kevin Braswell signs two-year coaching contract with the Wellington Saints|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=August 3, 2015|access-date=May 15, 2020}}{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Niall|url=http://nzhoops.co.nz/braswell-appointed-as-new-saints-coach/|title=Braswell Appointed As New Saints Coach|work=nzhoops.co.nz|date=August 3, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122062038/http://nzhoops.co.nz/braswell-appointed-as-new-saints-coach/|archive-date=January 22, 2016}} 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.fibalivestats.com/u/NZN/279840/|title=Saints vs Rams|work=fibalivestats.com|date=April 15, 2016|access-date=April 15, 2016}}{{cite web|last=Hyslop|first=Liam|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/78991558/canterbury-rams-hammer-depleted-wellington-saints-by-25-points|title=Canterbury Rams hammer depleted Wellington Saints by 25 points|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=April 15, 2016|access-date=May 15, 2020}} He went on to guide the Saints to the championship in his first season as coach.{{cite web|last=Savory|first=Logan|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/80760861/kevin-braswells-rapid-rise-from-star-player-to-title-winning-coach|title=Kevin Braswell's rapid rise from star player to title winning coach|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=June 5, 2016|access-date=May 15, 2020}}

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.{{cite web|last=Anderson|first=Niall|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=11878317|title=Basketball: Wellington Saints complete perfect NBL season|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=June 17, 2017|access-date=May 15, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.basketball.org.nz/NBL-News/saints-create-history-claiming-their-tenth-title|title=SAINTS CREATE HISTORY CLAIMING THEIR TENTH TITLE|work=Basketball.org.nz|date=June 17, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190126000755/http://nz.basketball/NBL-News/saints-create-history-claiming-their-tenth-title|archive-date=January 26, 2019}} He returned to Wellington for a third and final season in 2018,{{cite web|last=Hyslop|first=Liam|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/95871613/kevin-braswell-resigned-by-wellington-saints-but-will-he-have-a-team-to-coach|title=Kevin Braswell re-signed by Wellington Saints, but will he have a team to coach?|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=August 17, 2017|access-date=May 15, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.saints.co.nz/page/news-and-results.aspx?news=10469|title=Kevin Braswell to return|work=saints.co.nz|date=August 17, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817041010/http://www.saints.co.nz/page/news-and-results.aspx?news=10469|archive-date=August 17, 2017}} leading the Saints to a third straight grand final where they lost to the Southland Sharks.{{cite web|url=http://www.nznbl.basketball/sharks-claim-third-title-with-gutsy-win-over-defending-champion-saints/|title=SHARKS CLAIM THIRD TITLE WITH GUTSY WIN OVER DEFENDING CHAMPION SAINTS|work=nznbl.basketball|date=August 6, 2018|access-date=August 6, 2018}}

On April 16, 2018, Braswell was appointed head coach of the New Zealand Breakers on a three-year deal.{{cite web|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/103133446/former-player-kevin-braswell-named-as-head-coach-of-nz-breakers|title=Former player Kevin Braswell named as head coach of NZ Breakers|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=April 16, 2018|access-date=April 16, 2018}} However, he was released from his contract in June 2019 after completing just one season.{{cite web|last=Hinton|first=Marc|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/113175887/breakers-go-for-israeli-dan-shamir-as-new-coach-to-replace-kevin-braswell--report|title=Breakers go for Israeli Dan Shamir as new coach to replace Kevin Braswell – report|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=June 1, 2019|access-date=May 15, 2020}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nbl.com.au/news/article/breakers-sign-scotty-hopson-change-coaching-structure|title=Breakers Sign Scotty Hopson, Change Coaching Structure|work=NBL.com.au|date=July 31, 2019|access-date=May 15, 2020|quote=The new structure has resulted in Head Coach Kevin Braswell leaving the club last month.}}

In May 2020, Braswell was appointed head coach of the Auckland Huskies of the New Zealand NBL.{{cite web|url=https://www.nznbl.basketball/auckland-huskies-australian-owners-launch-new-sals-nbl-team/|title=AUCKLAND HUSKIES – AUSTRALIAN OWNERS LAUNCH NEW SAL'S NBL TEAM|work=nznbl.basketball|date=May 15, 2020|access-date=May 15, 2020}} He parted ways with the Huskies following the 2020 season.{{cite web|url=https://www.nznbl.basketball/auckland-huskies-lock-in-2021-coaching-staff/|title=AUCKLAND HUSKIES LOCK IN 2021 COACHING STAFF|work=nznbl.basketball|date=November 16, 2020|access-date=November 16, 2020}}

On June 25, 2021, Braswell was appointed assistant coach of the Akita Northern Happinets in the Japanese B.League.{{cite web|url=https://northern-happinets.com/news/detail/id=15983|title=【新加入】チームスタッフ契約合意のお知らせ|work=northern-happinets.com|date=June 25, 2021|access-date=June 25, 2021|language=Japanese}} In the 2022–23 season, he served as associate coach and acting head coach of the Happinets.{{cite web|url=https://www.utsunomiyabrex.com/contract/2023-24_new_staffs/|title=チームスタッフ加入のお知らせ|work=utsunomiyabrex.com|date=July 4, 2023|access-date=July 4, 2023|language=Japanese}}

On July 4, 2023, Braswell was appointed associate coach of the Utsunomiya Brex for the 2023–24 season. He was elevated to head coach of the Utsunomiya Brex for the 2024–25 season.{{cite news |title=【スタッフ】ケビン・ブラスウェル氏 ヘッドコーチ就任 |url=https://www.utsunomiyabrex.com/contract/2024-25_hc/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |work=utsunomiyabrex.com |date=June 5, 2024 |language=ja}}

Personal life and death

Braswell's immediate family included his mother, Millicent Boone, and his younger brother, James Boone.{{cite web|last=Savory|first=Logan|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/basketball/69726306/sharks-veteran-kevin-braswell-to-play-for-his-mum-in-final-game-in-invercargill|title=Sharks veteran Kevin Braswell to play for his mum in final game in Invercargill|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=June 26, 2015|access-date=May 15, 2020}}

Braswell underwent emergency heart surgery in Japan on January 17, 2025.{{cite news |last1=Odeven |first1=Ed |title=B.League All-Star Game Defined by Endless Array of 3-Pointers {{!}} SportsLook |url=https://featured.japan-forward.com/sportslook/b-league-all-star-game-defined-by-endless-array-of-3-pointers/ |access-date=February 24, 2025 |date=January 20, 2025 |language=EN-US}} He remained in a hospital in Utsunomiya, but died on February 24, at the age of 46.{{cite web |title=訃報のお知らせ |url=https://www.utsunomiyabrex.com/news/detail/id=22657 |website=宇都宮ブレックス |access-date=February 24, 2025 |date=February 24, 2025}}

See also

References

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