Boston Celtics starting shooting guard Jaylen Brown recently interviewed with team reporter Marc D’Amico, giving an update on what he’s been up to in quarantine, as well as the team’s outlook for a restarted season among several other topics.
Like most of us, the Georgian has been sheltering at home. And while the reasons behind it have been anything but positive, a usually-traveling Brown has at least enjoyed the break to catch up with family.
“To be honest, it’s unfortunate, but for the first time, really in my life, I’ve been at home for extended periods. I can’t remember the last I’ve been at home for a month plus, so I’m definitely taking that,” offered the Marietta native.
The Cal-Berkeley product hasn’t been idle, though — even writing an op-ed column for The Guardian on COVID-19, and his thoughts on how we could be working together to right the wrongs created — and often, exposed — by the pandemic.
When asked what motivated Brown to write the article, the former Golden Bear responded with a deeply personal point of view on the disease.
“Once I saw Karl-Anthony Towns mother pass [I had to write something]; Karl is somebody I’ve known grown up with in some tournaments, seen, his mom, his dad there. It instantly hit home that that could be my mom — anybody’s mom — so I wanted to send my sympathy … out to those who are in distress in moments like these.”
“And hopefully this is … a moment is like we come together instead of drifting farther apart,” he added.
It is telling of his wider worldview the 23-year-old sees the best in us in even our worst collective moments.
Jaylen Brown calls for caution, calm on Coronavirus on Instagram https://t.co/8u3JHnZMvG
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) March 12, 2020
His off-court interests have long been geared in weaponizing his opportunities afforded him for his physical gifts into tools to help smooth the path for others, and that Brown would call for unity and cooperation when so many are busy pointing fingers is leadership beyond his 23 years.
On the topic of how the Celtics as a whole have responded to the pandemic, the fourth-year guard is pleased — but not satisfied.
“I think we’ve done a good job, but I think we need to do a great job,” offered Brown. “I think we need more. I think we’ve people need to do more.”
“We need to help our elderly in our local neighborhoods, see if they need anything, if they have to go to grocery store. People who are in healthcare families, they’re putting themselves at risk to go to work every single day … send them your sympathy or help them out.”
“People who are … heroes that are working every day going out into the field, knowing that they’re at risk, those people might need help financially, and if you have the means to do so, try to lean on them,” he added.
Jaylen Brown taking on leadership role in player-only conference calls https://t.co/Ng5t4iMU2Q
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) April 10, 2020
Brown went on to note how he’s been quietly trying to support local food banks and other such charities helping locals cope with the pandemic, noting that, “tough times and adverse times [are] when we really show who we really are.”
On a lighter note, the topic of resuming the season came up. particularly regarding whether the team would be able to resume such high level play after the extended break.
“I think we’ve got a special team this year — I think that we’re really improving at a good rate,” began Brown.
“I think that we were sidelined a little bit by injuries, but being able to have this time off, I think it’s allowed us to heal a little bit. I think that we’re still communicating on a daily basis, trying to stay in some sort of rhythm checking on each other. We have Wednesday group sessions where we all talk.”
“I think that we have a really good chance as much as anybody,” he added. “So as long as we believe in ourselves, I think we’ll be okay.”
What will it take for Boston to hoist another banner in this most harrowing of seasons?
Jaylen Brown talks training, film, skill work in new interview https://t.co/31SKrtQOqm via @thecelticswire
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) April 27, 2020
“It’s going to take an extreme amount of focus; it’s going to take an extreme amount of effort, energy and togetherness to do it,” offered Brown.
“I think that we were on track to do something special, for sure. I think that we had that togetherness, we have a unity, we have that camaraderie. We don’t have any tension or any bad news … in the locker room. We just needed to get a little bit more healthy during the season.”
“But, it’s going to take a lot and I’ve never won a championship, so I can’t really speak on know exactly that,” admitted Brown earnestly.
At least, not yet.
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