Farmar steps into the role of a starter

It definitely beats playing for the D-Fenders.

Three days after logging 21 minutes for the Lakers’ development league team, Jordan Farmar found himself in an entirely different role -- starting for the Lakers.

The rookie replaced the oft-maligned Smush Parker in the lineup after Coach Phil Jackson pulled the plug on Parker’s 162-game streak as a starter.

Farmar’s stats weren’t eye-catching -- nine points and three assists in 28 minutes Sunday against Seattle -- but the move was a vote of confidence from a coach who historically keeps rookies parked on the bench.

“I think Jordan did a nice job,” Jackson said. “I think he handled the ball well and looked to do things we’d like him to do. I liked Smush off the bench in the second quarter. I thought he played well, kind of held that [second] unit together.”

Farmar displayed parcels of effectiveness.

He found Kwame Brown open underneath with a behind-the-back pass (Brown was fouled). He also made three of six shots, including two of three from three-point range.

“It’s been a long road for me,” Farmar said. “It’s tough, but they’ve been telling me all year, ‘Just be mentally ready ... you never know what can happen.’ ”

Parker, benched for the fourth quarter for four of the Lakers’ last six games, had four points on two-for-six shooting Sunday.

“It’s a different feeling coming off the bench,” he said. “I was a little stiff, a little tight. Just got to play through it, take advantage of the time I get and work hard.”

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Brown had his reasons for returning Sunday.

“Losing,” he said, mindful of the Lakers’ 2-8 skid that ended against Seattle.

The center had sat out six games after aggravating a sore left ankle that has cost him a total of 34 games this season since he initially hurt it Dec. 31.

“I said about two weeks ago that if we don’t have Kwame back, we’re not going to win and we’re not going to go anywhere in the playoffs,” Jackson said. “We haven’t really been able to do much without him. He gives us a post presence.”

Brown finished with three points and four rebounds in 27 minutes.

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Forward Luke Walton showed up with a closely cropped haircut that Jackson couldn’t resist turning into a punch line.

“I think it’s just that he wants to kind of emulate Britney Spears,” Jackson said.

Walton has been inaccurately linked to Spears romantically in tabloid reports.

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