Jaylen Brown Discusses Individual Improvement This Season

The Boston Celtics might not be the most talked-about team this season, but maybe they should be. The fact that the Celtics have been able to remain Eastern Conference contenders with Jayson Tatum on the bench for most of the season. A lot of this surprise success has been the play of Jaylen Brown. 

Brown has led the Celtics in Tatum’s absence, and he’s done it well. Brown is averaging career highs in points, assists, and rebounds this season. He’s averaging 28.4 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game. 

Brown spoke about his individual improvement this season after a 41-point outing against the Phoenix Suns. 

“For sure. And I've been able to be in this in a role where I'd be able to kind of control things, and everybody's kind of playing off me. I've been in those roles seldom over the years, but this year, for an extended amount of time, I've been able to be in that position. And it's honestly, I feel like I still have a lot of room to grow. I feel like even now over the last couple of games, I've adjusted my game, and I'm still continuing to get better in my playmaking ability, seeing the floor, taking my time, all of that stuff is still continuing to improve, but it's honestly — it's my first opportunity in my career where I've been able to do this for an extended period of time. And obviously, regardless, people are going to have their critiques and their criticism, but it's just it's a completely different flow when people play off you or when you play off others. It’s two completely different things.”

With Tatum out, Brown has been able to uncover another layer to his game. He’s shown that he can be the number one star on a contending team. And now, Tatum is back, and the Celtics look as dangerous as ever.