WASHINGTON - Kwame Brown, a flop since becoming the first high schooler taken first overall in the National Basketball Association Draft, was suspended for the remainder of the playoffs Tuesday by the Washington Wizards.
Wizards coach Eddie Jordan and president of basketball operations Ernie Grunfeld met with Brown before a team practice one night after a victory over Chicago that evened their best-of-seven first round series at two games each.
Brown missed the game with what was termed a virus but it was clear that something more was making the Wizards' bosses ill.
Brown will not practice or travel with the club for the rest of the playoffs and his future as a Wizard is in doubt. Brown turned down a contract extension last year and will be a free agent following the playoffs.
"The three of us felt it was best for both the Wizards organization and Kwame that he no longer participate in the remainder of the playoffs," Grunfeld said.
"The team will move forward in our participation in the playoffs, and we will have no further comment regarding this issue."
No Washington team has won an NBA playoff series since 1982 and none had won a playoff game in 17 years until last Saturday.
Brown averaged 7.0 points and 4.9 rebounds in 42 games this season and averaged five points and five rebounds in three playoff appearances.
Brown was the handpicked 2001 top choice of Michael Jordan, then in Grunfeld's job, but never measured up to the confidence the former superstar had in him.
05/03/2005 19:17 GMT