Who should be part of Washington Wizards long-term core?

4: Troy Brown Jr. demonstrating mentoring and defensive abilities

Before the regular season began, second-year swingman Troy Brown Jr. was impacting the Washington Wizards 2019 Summer League team. Brown not only took a leadership role on and off the court with Hachimura, but he also brought his personal barber to Las Vegas so he could give each of his Summer League teammates a haircut.

Kind gestures like these have defined Brown as a player and an individual. Heading into this season, Brown sought to step up as a mentor to his young teammates.

"“I feel like this year, going into my second year, there’s just so much more confidence. I know what I’m capable of and I know what kind of player I am. At this point, it’s just about proving everybody wrong and just going out and playing my game and showing why I’m here. Being able to do that and to be a leader, that’s the two biggest things I’m here for. “I definitely want to be there for those [younger] guys and make sure that they’re learning the stuff that I wasn’t able to get early on.”"

Brown has been a key player in the Wizards rotation this year. He’s currently averaging 6.8 points per game, an improvement on the 4.8 points per game that he averaged last season. Brown has started nine games in 2019 and has played in 13 of the Wizards’ 16 contests, missing the first three due to a calf strain.

Thus far, Brown has also averaged of 2.1 assists per game, sixth-most on the team, and has averaged 48.3 percent from 2-point range.

When Brown’s defensive statistics are factored in, it’s clear to see that he has locked down on that end. In 12 games, Brown has allowed an average of 3.6 field goals made on an average of 8.6 opponent attempts, combining for a 42.0 opponent distributed field goal percentage, according to NBA statistics. Opponents’ overall field-goal percentage against Brown is 44.2 percent.

Compare these statistics to a season prior, when Brown gave up a 45.9 percent distributed field-goal percentage and a 44.0 percent overall percentage. The difference between Brown’s DFG percentage between these two seasons demonstrates improvement and a willingness to improve his play.

Brown’s combination of leadership and his potential to be a crucial role player on the Wizards moving forward make him a prime candidate for consideration in the team’s long-term core.

His rookie contract runs through the 2021-22 season, with the Wizards needing to decide his fourth-year option by early next season. Here’s hoping that he will continue to develop and emerge as an effective and efficient option for the Wiz.