Best Illinois basketball players: All-time Illini starting lineup

CHAMPAIGN, IL - JANUARY 05: Dee Brown #11 of the Illinois Fighting Illini brings the ball upcourt on his way to a career high 34 points against the Michigan State Spartans on January 5, 2006 in the Assembly Hall at the University of Illinois in Champaign, Illinois. Illinois defeated Michigan State 60-50. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

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Illinois basketball (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /

Because Deron Williams went on to have the more fruitful NBA career, many remember him as the heart of the Illinois basketball team that made the epic run to the 2005 Final Four. But anyone in the state or watching at the time can tell you the Fighting Illini were undeniably Dee Brown‘s team. And there’s no debating his position as the all-time starting point guard.

The stats were never a problem for the vocal and charismatic leader of Illinois basketball. Over his four years as a starter, Brown averaged 13.2 points, 4.9 assists, 3.3. rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, filling up the box score. Furthermore, he was the heartbeat of arguably the greatest team in the history of the program that came just shy of winning the National Championship in ’05.

What’s more, Brown’s trophy case is far from empty as well. He was named the Sporting News Player of the Year for the 2004-05 season, a two-time All-American (one First Team, one Second Team), a two-time All-Big Ten First Team selection and the 2005-06 Bob Cousy Award winner. It’s safe to say he was respected in his time.

By the end of his career, Brown finished as Illinois basketball’s third all-time leading scorer (1,812), though he’s since been passed and is now fourth. Moreover, the guard is second in career 3-pointers made (299), third all-time in career assists with 674 and second all-time in steals at 231. So when you take into account the whole picture, Brown is simply the greatest to ever take the floor in Champaign.

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