Lakers’ Byron Scott argues Jabari Brown belongs in the NBA

The message sounded sobering, just like some well-needed medicine that also proves difficult to swallow.

Jabari Brown learned he did not make the Lakers’ roster. Instead of offering the usual excuses that Brown became the casualty of a numbers game, Lakers coach Byron Scott avoided the pleasantries and cut to the chase. Scott told Brown he did not show enough aggressiveness both to thrive in the NBA and show he remained hungry enough to make it.

Five months later, Brown still remembered those words and has vowed since the Lakers signed him to a 10-day contract last week that Scott would no longer have that impression. Scott already has changed his view following Brown’s second NBA game. Brown posted nine points on 4-of-5 shooting in 22 minutes off the bench in the Lakers’ 91-86 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday at Staples Center, leading Scott to make the following declaration.

“He is one of those guys next year who will belong in this league,” Scott said. “He guards people and is a tough kid. Offensively, he takes what you give him. He makes good decisions too, which is important. So I think he has a place in this league.”

Where that place resides currently remains undecided. Brown will have two more games with the Lakers (17-48) both tonight in Golden State (52-13) and on Thursday against Utah at Staples Center. But the Lakers will then have to sign Brown to another 10-day contract if they plan to keep him. Yet, the likelihood of that seems more and more likely considering Nick Young’s CT scan scheduled for today may reveal his swollen left knee has not healed enough to return anytime soon, or even this season. After all, the Lakers originally signed Brown partly because Young missed the past 10 games.

But just as it played out in training camp, Scott’s assessment on Brown’s standing with the team had nothing to do with the number of roster spots available. It had everything to do with his play. Brown also impressed Scott in his NBA debut in Thursday’s loss against New York, his seven points on 3-of-6 shooting in 18 minutes off the bench prompting Scott to say, “out of all our guys, I thought Jabari played the best.”

“That’s a good compliment, especially from a guy who played and won championships,” said Brown, referring to Scott winning three NBA titles with the Showtime Lakers. “I’m dedicated and hard working so I’m going to try to keep it going.”

Brown certainly did that against Atlanta.

A minute after checking into the game late in the first quarter, Brown converted on a fast-break layup. Early in the second quarter, Brown pick-pocketed John Jenkins and then received a pass from Carlos Boozer for the open layup. After making that basket, Brown sprinted back on defense. He stayed on the wing. Brown then quickly rotated to the top of the key to contest Kyle Korver’s missed three-pointer.

“I felt good out there,” Brown said. “I’m just trying to play hard on the defensive end and hit open shots.”

Brown fulfilled that job description with the Lakers’ Development League affiliate, the D-Fenders, where he averaged a team-leading 24.4 points per game. But Scott hardly sensed Brown made much impact in training camp, where the undrafted rookie from University of Missouri posted a combined five points, two rebounds and an assist in 22 minutes through four exhibition games.

“He’s been much more aggressive since,” Scott said of Brown. “He was really passive when he was with us. But now he comes in and looks to be aggressive on both ends.”

Brown plans to keep that same mindset tonight when the Lakers play at Golden State at Oracle Arena, where a contingent of friends and family near his Berkeley hometown will see him in a purple and gold uniform.

Brown predicted “it’s going to be fun” and embraced what he called “the challenge” in matching up against Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson, whom Brown labeled “two of the best guards in the league.” Then, Brown will continue his ongoing quest in ensuring Scott both offers positive feedback and grants him a permanent role.

“I’m a player who can help them moving forward,” Brown said. “I’m a guy you can put in, help bring in energy, and make good things happen.”

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Follow L.A. Daily News Lakers beat writer Mark Medina on Twitter and on Facebook. E-mail him at mark.medina@langnews.com