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WALTHAM, Mass. – Jaylen Brown has only been playing for the Boston Celtics for a few weeks, but the rookie’s early display of athleticism has already allowed him to make quite an impression on his new teammates.
“He’s a freak, man,” said Avery Bradley ahead of Boston's practice Tuesday afternoon. “He’s making a lot of plays that 19-year-olds aren’t making.”
Through six preseason games, Brown has dazzled with his explosiveness and he’s coupled that with great body control on his drives to the rim. And, as Bradley indicated, he’s making a lot of smart decisions for a guy who is still just a teenager.
“A lot of people would probably think that Jaylen would be [committing] a lot of charges and things like that, but he’s making the right play,” said Bradley. “If he doesn’t have an open layup, then he’s kicking the ball out to an open 3.
“He’s going to help our team out a lot. He’s a threat to the basket. He’s very strong and a very smart player.”
Brown’s athletic, rim-rattling dunks have become a spectacle for Celtics fans and players alike. And when he rises up, Boston’s entire bench rises with him.
“I always get excited when he gets in the game because I just want to see what he’s going to do,” said veteran big man Al Horford. “It seems like he’s always getting a highlight play, and I think that’s just a preview of what we���re going to see this season.”
The Celtics are loaded with talent across the board heading into this season, which would make it difficult for any rookie to crack significant minutes in their rotation. However, Brad Stevens has been able to utilize Brown’s versatility by slotting him at either the 3 or the 4 so that the C’s can get the most out of their high-potential rookie.
“He adds value to winning, and that’s how you fit into our group,” said Stevens. “I like his progress and I like what he’s done thus far. I think we’ve thrown him into the fire a little bit at two positions, but ultimately that’s how we have to move forward.
“And hey,” the coach added, “there’s going to be some growing pains with some of these young guys; you have to understand that. But if you bring something to the table that helps our team win, that’s what we have to consider first and foremost.”
Brown has been a key cog off of Boston’s bench this preseason and has helped the Celtics capture five wins in a row. So far he’s proven that he can score in multiple ways and that he can defend multiple positions at the other end of the floor.
“I’ve said from Day 1,” said Stevens, “if Jaylen can defend a couple of positions and if he can make an open shot on the catch and shoot; if he can drive and cut and figure out the times to do that, then those will be great separators for him because he has some gifts that will allow him to be on the court with his body, his frame, his quickness and everything else.”
Brown also brings the gift of being an incredibly hard worker who’s always asking questions and taking advice from his teammates.
“He’s here to learn and to get better every single day and I appreciate him for that,” said Bradley. “[He’s] a young guy that just has an open mind and wants to work hard, and that has to be your mindset coming in to a team like this with good players like we have.
“He’s going to be a perfect piece for us, and he’s going to be a very special player if he continues to work hard.”