The trade that brought former #1 pick Kwame Brown to the Lakers wasn’t looking too good for most of the season. In the 42 games before the All-Star break, Brown averaged just 6.1 ppg and 6.0 rpg on 47.4% shooting in 26 minutes. Over the last four games – not coincidentally, all Laker wins – he averaged 16.3 ppg and 9.0 rpg on 72.2% shooting in 38 minutes per game. Sure, it’s only four games, but Laker fans will take any possible sign that the big kid is finally coming of age.
“He’s been doing the defensive part all year long,” Kobe Bryant said Wednesday night following one of the best efforts of Brown’s five-year NBA career. “Sometimes, the people want more. Tonight he gave them more.”
“Great game. We told him before the game, they don’t bother to guard him, that if he was active, he was going to find some things around there,” Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. “He really did. He found some opportunities tonight.
“He’s steadily been playing better and better as he’s gotten comfortable.”
“I have come in here and done what Coach has asked me to do,” Brown said. “He asked me to run, rebound and defend, but unfortunately playing defense is like being a lineman in football — you just don’t get much credit for it.
“With Chris (Mihm) being out, I did not want there to be a letdown for my teammates. I know my role has changed a little bit because I have to go in and score instead of coming off the bench to get Kobe open, run and rebound. I have to do a little more on the offensive end.”
At 6’11” and 270 lbs., Brown has all the physical tools to be a superstar, but he’s never been able to reach his potential. He has the type of game that makes most college basketball players cringe, especially those who never get the chance to play professionally.
The key to his recent play may be the extra minutes he’s getting with Mihm out. It seems like, with Phil Jackson as your coach, either the light goes on or the team gets rid of you. Maybe Kwame’s light is finally going on.
