Los Angeles Clippers rookie Kobe Brown will see a larger role moving forward after playing sparingly to start the season, head coach Tyronn Lue said.
Brown made just his eighth appearance of the season on Wednesday in a 131-117 win over the Sacramento Kings. He recorded three points and two rebounds in nearly 11 minutes of work, his third game playing at least 10 minutes.
The Clippers want to get him some more playing time and believe he will be able to fill some needs playing at power forward. They like what he can bring defensively at that position and want him to give him a shot to prove himself on the court.
“Kobe is going to be in the rotation,” Lue said on Wednesday. “(We want to) give him an opportunity to see what he can bring to the table. He is a good shooter. He is good defensively and plays hard. … He is only going to get better. Once he understands how we’re playing and what we need from him on a daily basis, he is only going to get better.”
With playing time at a minimum, Brown has spent time in the G League with the Ontario Clippers. He is averaging 13.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and one steal on 33.3% shooting from 3-point range in four appearances with Ontario.
The 30th pick earned praise from teammate Paul George over the summer as the eight-time All-Star believes Brown has a lot of upside and brings good size at 6 feet, 7 inches and 250 pounds. Brown also impressed him with his work ethic and the energy he brings to the court.
After playing sparingly this season, Brown will see more minutes in the rotation moving forward. It will serve as a great opportunity to showcase himself at the next level.
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