Suns’ Shannon Brown gets warm welcome — and a loss — in L.A. return

The acknowledgment came early in the first quarter, courtesy of two words and a theme song from a 1970s sitcom.

“Thanks Shannon” read the Staples Center scoreboard while music from “Welcome Back, Kotter” played over the loudspeakers.

Seated on the Phoenix Suns bench, Shannon Brown flashed an appreciative smile.

The shooting guard who had helped the Lakers win two NBA titles was back, but it wouldn’t be a happy homecoming for long.

Kobe Bryant, who had called Brown his “little brother,” upstaged his former teammate in a big way, scoring a season-high 48 points during the Lakers’ 99-83 victory over Phoenix. Bryant made several baskets while defended by Brown, including a three-point play in the first quarter by faking Brown into the air to draw a foul as he put up a jumper.

“He caught me with a little pump fake,” Brown said. “I knew he was going to do it, but I bit anyway.”

After three mostly forgettable quarters, Brown came out determined to show what he could do for Phoenix to start the fourth. He made a three-foot jumper. Then he made a six-footer that pulled the Suns to within a point.

Brown didn’t let having a shot blocked by Andrew Bynum on a subsequent possession bother him, banking in a seven-foot follow shot to keep the Suns close. He also made a three-pointer, giving him nine points in the first 5 minutes 15 seconds of the fourth quarter.

But the Lakers ultimately pulled away and Brown, who finished with 11 points on five-for-13 shooting in 18 minutes, chastised himself afterward for an uneven performance.

“I’ve got to put two halves together, man,” he said. “I have to play with a chip on my shoulder.”

Brown said he came out too passive during a first half in which he scored only two points on a dunk and made one of five shots.

It had already been an emotional day, with a Lakers fan outside the team hotel giving Brown a photo of him holding the Lakers’ 2009 championship trophy. Brown also chatted with Staples Center employees and soaked up his old environs during the Suns’ shoot-around.

“It definitely brought back a lot of memories,” Brown said.

After three years as a Laker, Brown decided to join a Western Conference rival, signing a one-year, $3.5-million contract with the Suns last month. Brown, who averaged 8.7 points in 19.1 minutes off the bench last season, said he wanted a bigger role “in every situation, in every way. It was the best opportunity for me, for my family, for my basketball career and everything.”

Brown’s performance Tuesday was the first time he had scored in double figures in a Phoenix loss. Previously, he was averaging 12.3 points in the Suns’ victories and 4.3 points in their defeats.

For the season, Brown is averaging 8.1 points on 33.8% shooting in 19.3 minutes per game.

Phoenix Coach Alvin Gentry said before the game that Brown needs to look for his shot more.

“He’s a little bit too unselfish,” Gentry said, “and we want him to be a scorer when he’s out on the floor and be aggressive taking the ball to the basket and create.”

Brown said he was aware that the Lakers’ bench production had sagged since the departures of himself and Lamar Odom, who is now a Dallas Maverick.

“I’ve noticed it,” Brown said. “I try not to put myself and say, ‘If I was there, this would happen,’ or ‘If Lamar was there or we were there, such-and-such would happen.’ But me being a basketball fan and knowing the game of basketball, I have recognized it.”

Does it make him feel good that the Lakers miss him?

“Not at all,” Brown said. “I know my value, I know my worth, so I don’t have to measure it against somebody else doing good or bad.”

ben.bolch@latimes.com