Lakers News: Troy Brown Jr. Shocked By Expanded Role For LA

TBJ has been crushing it of late.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Troy Brown Jr. was a starter on the franchise for much of the 2022-23 season, until team president Rob Pelinka's series of trades upgraded the roster around stars LeBron James and Anthony Davis and forced him to the bench.

Now, Brown is a starter once again, with James sidelined due to a right tendon injury. And Brown himself is surprised at his minutes output, as Dan Woike of The Los Angeles Times writes.

“To be honest, I didn’t know I had played that many minutes,” Brown relayed after a 41-minute night against the Warriors. “I had no idea. Obviously with the rotations, I thought I was coming out and then going back in, but I wasn’t looking at stat sheets. It’s a blessing, honestly, just to get that opportunity, especially right now playing with time and with us playing for something and being able to be out there with those guys and make big plays. I’m grateful for it.” 

“It’s not really taking anything personal, trying to be professional and just know that they have a plan and the coaching staff has a plan and they are trying to put together their stuff,” Brown reflected. “So, for me, I just try to come out every night and do what I can do and make sure I’m locked in and give the team what I need on my end.”

The Lakers' own social media team is so amped about TBJ's three-point shooting that it compiled a supercut showing four of his five made triples against the Golden State Warriors (on 10 attempts) in the team's 113-105 Sunday win.

Troy Brown Jr! https://t.co/hWIYlvYtYN pic.twitter.com/D6YDHUVZSr

— Los Angeles Lakers (@Lakers) March 6, 2023

Brown has connected on 41.4% of his 4.4 three-point shot attempts a game since December 27th, after starting the season connecting on just 31% of his 2.8 triple tries through his first 30 games with LA. His biggest attribute before the uptick in three-point shooting was his defense on the wing, for a team that previously was severely lacking in that department.

Los Angeles inked Brown to a veteran's minimum contract last summer. But if he keeps this up, there's a chance he'll be in line for a big raise this year.

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