“It’s just great to have a kid like that.” I flinched a little when Darvin Ham said this about Troy Brown Jr following the Lakers’ win over the Golden State Warriors on Sunday.
Between his low-profile persona, rugged play and occupying a thankless role that is often designated for those many years his senior, it’s easy to forget that Brown is indeed still a kid.
Only 23, Brown is actually the youngest non-rookie on the Lakers despite playing in what is already his fifth season in the league. A former McDonald’s All-American and eventual 15th-overall pick in the 2018 draft, Brown was once seen as the type of prospect a team could build around.