Media Day seemed a bit totally different for the Boston Celtics this yr. Final yr, the Celtics needed to reply questions on a devastating loss to the Miami Warmth within the 2023 Jap Convention Finals. This yr, they needed to reply questions on defending their title. Final yr, Celtics followers have been reconciling Kristaps Porzingis carrying a Celtics uniform as a substitute of Marcus Good. This yr, the Celtics convey again their total championship core. Final yr, there have been questions on who would fill the emotional management function that Marcus Good left behind. This yr Celtics know who their emotional chief is: Jaylen Brown.
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Photograph by Joe Murphy/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures
From the second Jaylen Brown signed his supermax extension final offseason, he has been direct and purposeful about filling the void left behind after the Marcus Good commerce. When Jaylen was requested about final yr’s offseason strikes, his reply was pointed; his focus was on the defensive finish of the court docket.
“I believe what Kristaps can convey to us defensively and the additions a few of our different guys can convey to us defensively, I wish to make it possible for’s the place we hold our hats this yr. And that begins with me, that begins with Jayson…with Marcus gone, we don’t need our defensive identification to exit the door as effectively, so we’ve to essentially emphasize that initially of coaching camp.”
It’s simple to speak about elevating your defensive depth within the offseason. Jaylen adopted up theoe feedback with the most effective defensive season of his profession. It’s one factor to steer by instance, and it’s one other to empower your teammates and instill them with confidence. Whether or not it’s his long-time accomplice in crime Jayson Tatum or, on the time, new addition in Xavier Tillman, Jaylen has completed his greatest to share his confidence along with his teammates. After a down Recreation 2 in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers, Jaylen was caught on an mic’d up phase hyping up his famous person teammate:
Jayson Tatum would go on to have an enormous bounce-back efficiency to the tune of 33 factors, 13 rebounds, and 6 assists.
One of many huge moments of the Finals was the three-pointer that Xavier Tillman hit in Recreation 3. I’ve lengthy been a sceptic of Tillman’s three-point taking pictures capacity. Not Jaylen Brown. Within the days main as much as Recreation 3, Jaylen had taken be aware of the work Tillman was placing into his three-point taking pictures in his post-practice exercises, and got here to Tillman with a message:
“Hey, you’re gonna get your alternative, I really feel it. I’m gonna swing it to you. Let it fly. Bro, let it fly. I see you set within the work. I belief you.”
At Media Day when Eddie Home requested Jaylen about that go to Tillman for the three-pointer, Jaylen smiled as he remembered — he knew what was coming when he made that kick out go to Tillman.
“I knew it was good earlier than he even (shot). Should you see my physique language after I handed it to him, I kinda begin nearly operating again.”
Throughout Jaylen’s media periods, his unwavering emphasis on the workforce echoed loud and clear.
When requested in regards to the selflessness that Jayson and Jaylen performed with final season, Brown stated, “that’s part of our type. It’s part of the tradition that we constructed. Taking part in the sport the precise means. Utilizing each side of our workforce, to assist uplift the entire group”.
When requested what the important thing can be to maintain their success with out Kristaps Porzingis early within the season, he stated, “I’m on the lookout for guys to take steps ahead. , guys which have been right here, been a part of the system, attempt to push them to be higher variations of themselves. That’s thrilling. And as a pacesetter. Attempt to convey that out of all people. Simply be certain all of the items of the ship are simply transferring easily.”
When questioned about his outlook for the upcoming season, Jaylen as soon as extra credited his teammates for his confidence. “I’m excited. We acquired an awesome group of fellows, an awesome workforce chemistry, an awesome locker room, we simply gotta take it someday at a time and see the place we go from there. But it surely’s been an honor being round a few of these guys for X quantity of years. So I’m trying ahead to this journey due to the blokes I get to share the locker room with.”
After listening to Jaylen’s feedback from Media Day, it’s laborious to not really feel able to run by means of a wall for him. Jaylen has all the time been motivated to excel individually, and his steady enchancment has seen him surpass even the loftiest expectations. Nevertheless, what’s inspiring about his mindset for the upcoming season is his capacity to attract motivation from the success of his teammates.
It’s not stunning that as Jaylen strikes by means of the prime of his profession, he’s extra keen and in a position to tackle the duty of main the workforce. It’s been 5 years since there was a repeat NBA champion; repeating is tough. But, with Jaylen Brown taking up the function of emotional and non secular chief, Celtics followers ought to really feel extraordinarily assured about their possibilities to be the primary repeat champion in half a decade.
