Kwame Brown reflects on time with Lakers

Did the Lakers send a championship ring to Kwame Brown?

“What?” Brown responded when asked the question Tuesday night.

Did you get a ring from the Lakers?

“Man, you know the answer to that,” Brown said, smiling.

“Why should I get one? I wasn’t here.”

True, but Brown played a role in the Lakers winning the NBA championship last season.

After all, Brown was the trade bait the Lakers used to acquire Pau Gasol, who played a big role in the Lakers’ championship.

The Lakers sent Brown, Javaris Crittenton, Aaron McKie and the draft rights to Marc Gasol to the Memphis Grizzlies for Pau Gasol in February 2008.

So, Brown was told, the Lakers got Gasol because of him.

“That’s wasn’t because of me,” Brown said, laughing. “I didn’t have nothing to do with that.”

Brown now is playing center for the Detroit Pistons. He’s back to being a backup behind 35-year-old Ben Wallace, back to fumbling the basketball, back to being booed by Lakers fans.

Brown played 2 1/2 seasons with the Lakers, but he never found his game.

Even after he left the Lakers, Brown said he kept a close eye on his friend, Andrew Bynum.

“He’s using his left hand, using his length,” Brown said. “He’s playing well.”

Bynum played well enough to produce another double-double with 17 points and 12 rebounds in the Lakers’ 106-93 win over the Pistons at Staples Center.

As for Brown, he had nine points, five rebounds, three assists and three turnovers.

“I tell Andrew all the time, he owes me, ‘cause if you can score on me, you can score on anybody,” Brown said. “That’s my man. I love Andrew. We went through the battles together. I like that jumper he’s put in his game. That’s nice, because that makes you have to guard him honestly, because he can go both ways.”

Brown said he watched the Lakers play the Orlando Magic in the NBA Finals last June.

He was asked if he wished he still played for the Lakers.

“Of course,” Brown said. “When you know they are on the brink of getting a ring, of course you can always look back and say, ‘I wish. I wish.’ But I’ve just got to keep moving forward now. That part is over with. I’m happy for them, though, all of them.”

broderick.turner@latimes.com

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