Tag: Jaylen Brown

Do Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown need to be friends for the Celtics to win a championship?

In a league whose history is filled with title teams with low-key animosity simmering just below the surface, we have our doubts.

Do Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown need to be friends for the Boston Celtics to win a championship? For whatever reason, this old battleaxe ends up making the rounds every season despite the presence of excellent on-court chemistry — perhaps never more than in the current season.

But it is a good thought experiment just the same, given it seems pretty clear they are indeed friends, if not the team’s closest pair of amigos. Is it necessary for these two star Celtics forwards to be best buddies to win at a high level? In a league whose history is filled with title teams with low-key animosity simmering just below the surface, we have our doubts.

But on a recent episode of the CLNS Media “Garden Report” podcast, the hosts took a deep dive into this debate.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith took issue with Jaylen Brown’s comments on the 65-game rule

Unusually for Smith, there was not a lot of shouting involved.

There has been a lot of angst over the new rule that requires NBA players to play at least 65 regular season games in order to be eligible to win the most prestigious full-season awards like Most Valuable Player since injury to Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid took him out of the running for the honor.

More recently, star Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, a vice president of the Players’ Association, was asked if he felt the 65-game rule was fair. The Georgia native responded with his usual nuance to his role as a VP, and said maybe a slightly lower number might be better.

This got the goat of ESPN broadcaster Stephen A. Smith, who ranted about Brown’s words on a recent episode of ESPN’s “First Take.”

Unusually for Smith, there was not a lot of shouting involved, but if you want to see what he had to say about Brown’s comments, check out the clip embedded above.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Jaylen Brown on meeting fellow Celtics alum Tremont Waters in Puerto Rico

“I’m happy he’s killing it here — I will always support him,” said Brown.

Tremont Waters may not be part of the Boston Celtics anymore, but he will always be a Celtic — and not just for fans. Star Celtics forward Jaylen Brown made a quick stop in Puerto Rico during the All-Star Break for a little sun and a lot of activism, and while he was there he reconnected with Waters, his former Boston teammate.

Waters is currently playing for the Carolina (of Puerto Rico) Giants and the Puerto Rican National Team for FIBA play, and Brown’s visit provided a great opportunity for the two Boston alumni to reconnect. “I’m glad he’s doing well here,” said Brown to El Nuevo Dia’s Jorge Figueroa Loza (translated from Spanish).

“We used to train together,” Brown added. “He’s very creative with the ball.”

“I’m happy he’s killing it here — I will always support him,” said the Georgia native. Waters was drafted No. 51 overall by Boston in the 2019 NBA draft out of LSU, and played for the Celtics until the summer of 2021. It was then he left the team for stints in the G League, Toronto Raptors, and Washington Wizards before signing with Carolina in 2022.

“Hopefully (he can return to the NBA),” added Brown. “If he stays healthy, he has the talent and ability. Sometimes things out of your control get in the way; it’s difficult for short players. But, Tremont has the heart of a lion — I’m sure he will be fine, no matter what happens.”

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Cedric Maxwell reacts to Boston’s Jaylen Brown in the NBA’s 2024 Dunk Contest

Maxwell shared his feelings about Brown’s participation in the Dunk Contest.

We have heard from players, fans, and NBA analysts what they think of this year’s NBA Slam Dunk Contest featuring star Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown, but what do the Celtics greats of the past think of it? While that might be a hard question to answer more generally, in the case of one of them, we have a clear reply.

And that Boston legend is current day Celtics broadcaster Cedric Maxwell, who won two NBA titles with the Celtics in the heady days of the 1980s. That era certainly had some greats taking part in the dunk contest, even if Maxwell never tried his own hand at it.

Maxwell shared his thoughts on the event and Brown in it on a recent episode of his eponymous CLNS Media “Cedric Maxwell” podcast.

Check it out above!

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Celtics’ Jaylen Brown opens up on why he went to Puerto Rico post-All-Star break

Brown shared he wants to help create opportunities and resources for local Latinos and African-Americans.

As soon as the NBA’s 2024 All-Star Game was over (and several well before that), many of Jaylen Brown‘s teammates on the Boston Celtics were enjoying time away from the game in some exotic locale. For Brown, however, the trip he had in mind was one to Puerto Rico — but not just for spending time on the beach.

“I came here to enjoy a few days of vacation before reporting (to the Celtics) to continue the season,” said Brown to El Nuevo Dia’s Jorge Figueroa Loza (translated from Spanish). “But also to explore Puerto Rico and get together with individuals to see how we can make a better world.”

Noting that a lot of the issues he works on elsewhere are issues in Puerto Rico as well, Brown shared he wants to help create opportunities and resources for local Latinos and African-Americans.

“Education is something that I have always been passionate about,” he explained.

“To find different ways for youth to have a better education, to be a spokesperson. We are having conversations here to see where those possibilities might be.”

Knowing Brown, he found some of them — and we’ll likely be hearing what his next move regarding them is soon.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Jaylen Brown shares what his Dee Brown tribute dunk was supposed to look like

Unfortunately for Brown, he won’t be able to use that successful dunk in the contest.

There was no shortage of viewers nonplussed with the spectacle they saw at the NBA’s 2024 Slam Dunk Contest during the annual All-Star Week festivities, with star Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown getting much of that ire.

Some audience anger was surely the fact that Brown is a Celtic playing in Indianapolis in the Indiana Pacers’ home arena, but some of it was due to the perceived level of quality of his dunks. One in particular that was actually a thoughtful nod to the last Celtics Slam Dunk Contest participant wearing a No. 7 Brown jersey (Dee), but went sideways in its execution. The Georgia native posted a practice version of the dunk where he nailed the no-look flush over YouTube star Kai Cenat.

Unfortunately for Brown, he won’t be able to use that successful dunk in the contest. But if you want to see what it would have looked like in an ideal world, check out the clip embedded below courtesy of Clutch Points.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Was anything off in Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum’s collaboration in the NBA’s 2024 Slam Dunk Contest?

We are from Boston, so we are supposed to overreact to everything, right?

Did anything seem off to you about star Boston Celtics forwards Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum collaborating in the NBA’s 2024 Slam Dunk Contest in the All-Star Week festivities this year? We are from Boston, so we are supposed to overreact to everything, right? Well, CLNS Media reporters Josue Pavon and Bobby Manning get Celtics fans all fired up in this in-person edition of the Garden Report from our East Boston studios.

Fresh off their trip back from Indianapolis, Indiana for all things All-Star Week, Josue and Bobby dissected the dunk contest fiasco from a disconnected sort of collaboration between Brown and Tatum. From there, the hosts tailspin into all-out speculation, seeming frustration and even so mild panic over the way Tatum and Brown interact vs. the other star duos around the NBA.

Do they have something here, or are they just paranoid?

Take a look at the clip above and decide for yourself.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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Why the Boston Celtics have brought into the sacrifice mentality

Derrick White explains how the Boston Celtics were able to buy into the necessity of sacrificing for each other and for the team.

The Boston Celtics boast one of the deepest rosters in the NBA this season. Their top-eight rotation is arguably the most talented in the entire league. However, with so much talent comes the conundrum of getting everyone their touches and ensuring the entire team is pulling in the same direction.

The word “sacrifice” has been a common theme throughout the 2023-24 season. Everyone is playing in a slightly reduced role. Everyone is working toward the Celtics being the best version of themselves. As such, individual accolades are an afterthought, even if that accolade is the NBA’s 2024 Most Valuable Player award.

During a recent interview with WEEI, Derrick White discussed how the Celtics got on board with the sacrifices that need to be made. He credited the leadership of Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, both vocally and by example, on the court.

You can watch the full interview by clicking on the embedded link above.

Listen to the “Green With Envy” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3DoLhYK

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3Oj4dhD

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3K8MbvY

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Jaylen Brown couldn’t even dribble left without turning the ball over against children

This isn’t going to help silence the critics for Jaylen Brown.

One of Indiana’s busiest players at the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend was Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown.

Brown represented the Eastern Conference in the highest-scoring NBA All-Star Game ever. The 27-year-old also participated in the NBA’s dunk contest. While the judges seemingly favored Brown’s efforts more than the fans did, he ultimately lost to Mac McMclung, the defending champion.

During the contest, Brown even poked fun at the critics who say he cannot dribble with his left hand by wearing a glove on his left hand for one of his dunks. After a busy weekend, Brown deserved some relaxation. It seems he got some in Puerto Rico.

While he was out there, however, Brown also spent some time hooping with a group of adorable children.

As noted on Reddit, however, even these kids were able to force a turnover against Brown when he tried to dribble with his left hand.

This is a long-standing criticism of Brown’s game that Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green pointed out after they played each other during the 2022 NBA Finals. Here is more from Jared Weiss (via The Athletic):

“Green has said publicly that the Warriors’ game plan was to send Brown left and go at the ball, which worked well even if Brown was the Celtics’ best player in that series. […] After making strides last regular season, Brown had 66 turnovers in the 2023 playoffs, with eight of those coming in the Game 7 loss to Miami. Five of those TOs that night were dribble turnovers with his left hand.”

Compared to the competitive nature of playing against teams in the playoffs like the Warriors or the Heat, it is very different going against a bunch of kids in a fun pick-up game.

But it was still funny to see Brown lose his dribble when so many people are so quick to use that as criticism of his on-court development.

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Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were awestruck meeting Boston Celtics icon Larry Bird

Tatum and Brown met the Celtics Hall of Fame legend for the very first time.

Star Boston Celtics forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown met the Celtics Hall of Fame legend, Larry Bird for the very first time at 2024 NBA All Star Weekend as Bird emceed events at the annual week of exhibition fun. It was held in Indianapolis, where The Hick From French Lick has been a fixture as a member of the Indiana Pacers organization.

In a rare human moment for Tatum and Brown, the two current Boston stars were completely awestruck when seeing and meeting Larry Legend (though Brown would later admit he only saw Bird from afar). It was truly an NBA history moment for the ages, unfolding before all of our very eyes.

The folks behind the CLNS Media Garden Report captured some of the responses to the meeting for posterity.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear for yourself how they reacted.

Listen to the “Celtics Lab” podcast on:

Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi

YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ

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