The Los Angeles Lakers had the number 2 pick in the NBA draft and selected D’Angelo Russell from Ohio State Thursday, June 25, 2015, El Segundo, CA. Lakers General Manager Mitch Kupchak discusses the selection of Russell with the media from the Toyota Sports Center practice facility. Photo by Steve McCrank/Staff Photographer

The young man admired the Lakers from afar.

Well before he would spend his five years at the University of Stanford, Anthony Brown’s upbringing in Bellflower entailed bleeding purple and gold and cheering for Kobe Bryant.

The experienced executive admired Brown from afar, too.

Lakers general manager Mitch Kupchak frequently watched Brown play that either required a drive to UCLA or USC or a short flight to Stanford, Cal or even Washington.

Brown fell in love with the Lakers’ championship excellence and Bryant’s unyielding drive, leaving Brown to gush with nostalgia after the Lakers selected him with the 34th pick of the 2015 NBA Draft.

“That definitely helps me to know what it means to put on a jersey and what it means to represent the Lakers,” Brown said. “A lot of pride comes with that jersey. I think I can definitely help that and represent the team well.”

Kupchak fell in love with Brown’s versatility and his 44.1 percent from three-point range in the past two seasons, leaving Kupchak to imagine great things on how that will translate on his own team.

“We consider him one of the better shooters in the draft,” Kupchak said of Brown. “We think he can play multiple positions with shooting guard, small forward and is versatile enough to bring the ball up the floor with some pressure.”

The Lakers sure could use help in both areas.

Numerous Lakers posted career-lows from three-point range, including Kobe Bryant (37.3%), Nick Young (36.6%) and Ryan Kelly (33.7%). Lakers guard Ronnie Price also shot only 34.5 percent.

Meanwhile, the Lakers finished near the bottom out of 30 NBA teams last season in nearly every defensive category. They ranked 29th in total defense (105.3), 29th in defensive field-goal percentage (46.6) and 26th in fast-break points allowed (15.1). Meanwhile, Nick Young and Wesley Johnson lacked consistency as a wing defender.

“I’m going to get after it, make or miss shots,” Brown said. “I’m going to bring my energy and my effort. I’m going to make smart plays. I’m going to make the smart basketball plays. I’m unselfish and willing to put my body on the line. Those are the main things. Everyone knows I can shoot. But those are the main things to my game, intangibles that I wanted to be able to show.”

It caught Kupchak’s eye, leaving Brown with a chance to live out a dream he imagined every time he watched the Lakers on television.

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