January 29, 2009 12:57 AM

Devin Brown lives in a hotel

By Chris Tomasson
Rocky Mountain News

When I saw Devin Brown on Wednesday morning at his residence, he was in a good mood.

OK, let's back up a minute.

Brown's residence actually is a hotel near New Orleans' French Quarter.

Now, I've heard of guys on 10-day contracts or guys with nonguaranteed deals living in hotels. But you don't it much that someone with a guaranteed contract plans to spend the entire season in a hotel.

But Brown, a Hornets guard who played briefly with the Nuggets in 2002-03, has happily lived at this hotel since last September. I would identify which hotel it is, but, after Brown shot 6-of-7 and scored 18 points in Wednesday's 94-81 win over the Nuggets, it might create a mob scene in the lobby.

Anyhow, I arrived Wednesday morning after a flight from Memphis at my New Orleans hotel. As I was taking the elevator to the 24th hotel, a man came running up to the elevator door and gets in. The bellman who was accompanying me, said, "Hello, Mr. Brown,'' as if he's a neighbor.

Well, actually he is a bit of a neighbor.

Since I've known Brown since his Nuggets days, he greeted me. I asked, "Devin, what are you doing here?''

He said, "I live here.''

Brown moved into the hotel on the 18th floor before training camp. He likes it so much he decided to stay.

Seems the hotel gives Brown, making nearly $1 million this season, a pretty good rate. He indicated it's less than $100 a night, not bad for a luxury hotel near the French Quarter.

And, no, Brown doesn't check out when the team goes on a road trip. He keeps his stuff in the room.

And what about hotel loyalty points? You better believe Brown is collecting them.

"He probably has got enough for another year's stay,'' said the bellman.

So Wednesday, Brown either was well rested from the fine hotel beds or from the fact he hadn't played due to a coach's decision the past three games.

Regardless, he had a banner outing. Brown, who was called upon to play 24 minutes after Morris Peterson was lost for the game in the second quarter due to a foot injury, shot 3-of-3 from three-point range and put up a season-high point total.

"You just always have to be ready in that situation,'' Brown said. "That's what veteran players have to do. When you get an opportunity to play, you have to take advantage of it.''

Brown was at his best in the fourth quarter. He scored 10 of New Orleans' 26 points as the Hornets broke open a tight win and cruised to victory.

After the game, it was back to the hotel and, one presumes, peace and quiet on the 18th floor.

It wasn't that way on the 24th floor considering a workman was drilling during the day in the room next to mine.

But I'm sure the folks at the hotel know one does not disturb Mr. Brown on game day.

Posted by Chris Tomasson at 12:57 AM | Comments (9)