After a trip to the the Carribean, Boston Celtics shooting guard Jaylen Brown is ready to get back to work, but it wasn’t all beaches and sightseeing for the fourth-year player.
Spending the All-Star break in Cuba and the Bahamas, the Cal-Berkeley product headed to the a meeting of the NBA’s Player Association (NBPA) in the Bahamas — an interesting counterpoint to the backdrop of the 2020 All-Star Games in chilly Chicago.
Brown was actually in the Bahamas for business, joining other NBPA executives and members of the player’s union for NBA basketball players to conduct their yearly business.
The meetings, organized by the NBPA and the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism brought Brown to the tropical location, in the second year of his three-year term serving as the youngest vice-president in the NBPA.
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If Jaylen Brown's math is correct, the Celtics are in for a big year. https://t.co/HDhJcj3Wew— Steve Bulpett (@SteveBHoop) February 20, 2020
The 6-foot-6 wing was elected one of several new vice presidents of the NBPA in 2019, along with Malcolm Brogdon of the Indiana Pacers and Bismack Biyombo of the Charlotte Hornets.
In an interview with the Boston Herald’s Steve Bulpett, the Marietta native downplayed the business side of the trip, stating he, “did some traveling.”
“I went to Cuba, went to the Bahamas for the Players Association and things like that. I just got some rest, some mental rest. I hung out with family and friends. Now I’m ready to get back with the team and it’s all basketball from this point on.”
At those meetings, former teammate Kyrie Irving joined the Executive Committee, which also includes Andre Iguodala (First Vice President), Anthony Tolliver (Secretary-Treasurer), Bismack Biyombo, Malcolm Brogdon, Jaylen Brown, CJ McCollum and Garrett Temple (all Vice Presidents).
After the NBPA meetings, Brown headed on to Cuba, where he linked up with Cuban musician Arnaldo Rodríguez to tour the Lucecita Cultural Project, reports ADN Cuba.
The Cultural Project describes itself as an “artistic initiative with community character”, and features a number of musical productions, murals and other artistic endeavors on the group’s Facebook page.
After seeing the Project and several component workshops, Brown and Rodriguez shared an authentic creole dinner at the Talisman Studios Headquarters Restaurant, promising to return.
Done tending to business in paradise (with a little tourism thrown in), the former Golden Bear now turns his attention to the final stretch of the season before the playoffs in the bitter cold of the northern U.S.
Even though the Minnesota Timberwolves will be without star center Karl-Anthony Towns, Brown still sees the game as of high importance.
“It’s super important … It’s about us continuing to get better, cleaning up some of our habits and starting to make sacrifices and stuff necessary to get ready for the playoffs.”
“It’s the first game back. Everybody’s different in that regard. Some people went places; some people didn’t. Some people it’s like riding a bike and some people it’s not. I think everybody is a little different,” he continued.
Jaylen Brown, figura de Boston Celtics, visitó #Cuba y compartió con integrantes del Proyecto Cultural Lucecita, en el fin de semana de Estrellas de la Asociación Nacional de Baloncesto #NBA de #EstadosUnidos, destacan medios de prensahttps://t.co/qx1UZe2UzW pic.twitter.com/sJyjWqasw2
— RadioSantaCruz 🇨🇺 (@RadioSantaCruz_) February 18, 2020
“For us, we’ve got to find the right rhythm out there and find ways to win,” added Brown, alluding to the importance of not only maintaining the chemistry which has bound such a complex group of individual personalities into the most cohesive unit seen n the franchise since the Banner 17 era.
“So I’m looking forward to it,” noted the 23-year old, wise far beyond his years.
“We’ve got (28) games until the playoffs. Each and every one means something, so let’s get it going,” offered Brown.
This coming Friday evening on February 20th, the Celtics will do just that, kicking off a four-game west coast road trip to start their return to action against the Wolves.
Even without point guard Kemba Walker — who will rest with knee soreness after perhaps staying in the 2020 All-Star Game a bit longer than he should have — the game should be a great opportunity to continue the momentum that’s led the team to the NBA’s fourth-best record.
“The best is yet to come,” said Brown.
He very well may be right.
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