Helene Elliott: Fit for a King: Dustin Brown is more than worthy of a statue
LOS ANGELES — Dustin Brown entered Staples Center/Crypto.com Arena hundreds of times during his 18-year career, but his path didn't take him through Star Plaza and the forest of outsized statues that immortalize some of Los Angeles' greatest athletes.
Not until he retired and began using the public gates this season did he realize the glittery depth of a bronzed lineup that includes Wayne Gretzky, Luc Robitaille, Jerry West, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson, Elgin Baylor and announcers Chick Hearn and Bob Miller.
"I was like, 'Wow,' " Brown said. "As a player you never walk in through those entrances."
That distinguished lineup will grow Saturday when the Kings unveil a statue of Brown — the captain of their two Stanley Cup championship teams and career leader with 1,296 games played — and retire his No. 23 jersey. The kid from Ithaca, N.Y., whose speech impediment contributed to his shyness when he made his Kings debut at 18 in 2003 will stand tall among his adopted city's best.
"It's very surreal. You grow up, you're not playing for a statue. I just wanted to be a player in the NHL," he
