University of Minnesota Athletics
Black History Month: Jim Brewer
2/12/2021 7:37:00 AM | Men's Basketball, M Club
Written by Charles Hallman, Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Jim Brewer (1970-73) was a trailblazing, hard playing forward for the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Named Mr. Basketball after his Proviso East (Ill.) High School win and Illinois state title, former Minnesota assistant coach Al Nuness helped recruit the Maywood, Ill. native to the Twin Cities, despite being very heavily recruited by Illinois after he posted a career high school triple double (16 rebounds, 15 points, 11 blocks).
Often overlooked perhaps by his more prolific scoring teammates, the 6-9 Brewer instead did yeoman work for the Gophers as his unique ball handling and passing skills for a player of his size and stature set a new standard for forwards of his time. Instead of scoring, Brewer made his defense and on-court leadership even more important for team success -- he also was a member of the school's "Iron 5" that won the 1972 Big Ten championship, a squad that finished ranked 11th in the country and repeated its national ranking the following season and finished in the top ten.
Brewer was voted team MVP three times in as many seasons and made the Gophers' 1,000-point club (1,009 points in 75 games, a 13.5 scoring average). Among his other accomplishments at Minnesota: All Big Ten, All-NCAA Tournament first team, Big Ten MVP and All-American. He is among the school's top five all time in rebounds (5th), rebounding average (2nd), and tied for fifth-most rebounds in a game (22).
Ranker.com in 2020 put Brewer on their "25 Greatest Minnesota Basketball Players of All Time."
Brewer became the first U-M Black player to have his jersey number retired (#52) on March 5, 1973. He also made the U's 'M' Club Hall of Fame in 1994.
Before he embarked on a dozen-year pro career in 1973, Brewer was the co-captain of the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team. He was among four Gopher teammates drafted by both the NBA (2nd overall by Cleveland) and the ABA (first round), and later became a NBA champion (Los Angeles Lakers, 1982), a two-time league all-defensive player and a EuroLeague champion (1983), where he finished his final three pro seasons in Italy.
After retiring as a player, Brewer moved into coaching and other front office roles.
I first met him when he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves in its inaugural season in late 1990, where he was a scout, player personnel director and an assistant coach. Brewer also served as an assistant coach with Cleveland, Boston and the Los Angeles Clippers, where he worked under his nephew Doc Rivers.
Now retired from basketball, Brewer nonetheless will always be remembered by Gopher fans for his trailblazing moves on the court that transformed The Barn into a rocking place to watch hoops today.
Charles Hallman is an award-winning journalist for the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, and has covered Gopher sports since 1987, making him the Twin Cities media's longest running beat writer. He has been honored locally, statewide and nationally for his versatility as a journalist.
Named Mr. Basketball after his Proviso East (Ill.) High School win and Illinois state title, former Minnesota assistant coach Al Nuness helped recruit the Maywood, Ill. native to the Twin Cities, despite being very heavily recruited by Illinois after he posted a career high school triple double (16 rebounds, 15 points, 11 blocks).
Often overlooked perhaps by his more prolific scoring teammates, the 6-9 Brewer instead did yeoman work for the Gophers as his unique ball handling and passing skills for a player of his size and stature set a new standard for forwards of his time. Instead of scoring, Brewer made his defense and on-court leadership even more important for team success -- he also was a member of the school's "Iron 5" that won the 1972 Big Ten championship, a squad that finished ranked 11th in the country and repeated its national ranking the following season and finished in the top ten.
Brewer was voted team MVP three times in as many seasons and made the Gophers' 1,000-point club (1,009 points in 75 games, a 13.5 scoring average). Among his other accomplishments at Minnesota: All Big Ten, All-NCAA Tournament first team, Big Ten MVP and All-American. He is among the school's top five all time in rebounds (5th), rebounding average (2nd), and tied for fifth-most rebounds in a game (22).
Ranker.com in 2020 put Brewer on their "25 Greatest Minnesota Basketball Players of All Time."
Brewer became the first U-M Black player to have his jersey number retired (#52) on March 5, 1973. He also made the U's 'M' Club Hall of Fame in 1994.
Before he embarked on a dozen-year pro career in 1973, Brewer was the co-captain of the 1972 U.S. Olympic basketball team. He was among four Gopher teammates drafted by both the NBA (2nd overall by Cleveland) and the ABA (first round), and later became a NBA champion (Los Angeles Lakers, 1982), a two-time league all-defensive player and a EuroLeague champion (1983), where he finished his final three pro seasons in Italy.
After retiring as a player, Brewer moved into coaching and other front office roles.
I first met him when he joined the Minnesota Timberwolves in its inaugural season in late 1990, where he was a scout, player personnel director and an assistant coach. Brewer also served as an assistant coach with Cleveland, Boston and the Los Angeles Clippers, where he worked under his nephew Doc Rivers.
Now retired from basketball, Brewer nonetheless will always be remembered by Gopher fans for his trailblazing moves on the court that transformed The Barn into a rocking place to watch hoops today.
Charles Hallman is an award-winning journalist for the Minnesota Spokesman Recorder, and has covered Gopher sports since 1987, making him the Twin Cities media's longest running beat writer. He has been honored locally, statewide and nationally for his versatility as a journalist.
Highlights: Gophers 80, NDSU 54
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