{"id":121239,"date":"2023-03-25T12:19:29","date_gmt":"2023-03-25T16:19:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/?p=121239"},"modified":"2023-03-26T01:14:02","modified_gmt":"2023-03-26T05:14:02","slug":"jaylen-brown-celtics-nba","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clnsmedia.com\/jaylen-brown-celtics-nba\/","title":{"rendered":"Jaylen Brown Wants it Both Ways"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
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No one on the Celtics is playing better basketball right now than Jaylen Brown.<\/p>\n

Even through a difficult post All-Star stretch for the team as a whole, Brown’s performance has been above reproach. Since the break the All-Star wing is averaging 27.6 points per game on 50\/40 splits. Assists are up, turnovers down and he has been noticeably more dialed in on defense. He has set the tempo for the Celtics and provided energy for a team sorely lacking it.<\/p>\n

To reach their lofty goals of winning an NBA title the Celtics need Brown now more than ever, even if Brown himself hasn’t always felt needed.<\/p>\n

In recent interviews with the New York Times<\/a> and the Ringer<\/a> Brown expressed confusion and uncertainty<\/a> over just how much the Celtics considered him an essential piece of their future. His name, which has come up often in trade rumors, was dangled this offseason and again at the trade deadline when Kevin Durant came available.<\/p>\n

The rumor necessitated a 3-way call between Brown, Celtics President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens and fellow star Jayson Tatum, a friend of Durant’s and offseason workout partner. Tatum addressed that call after Friday’s 120-95 win over the Pacers.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust reassuring that it\u2019s obvious\u00a0we need him, and he\u2019s a big part of this team, this franchise, and without him, we can\u2019t reach our goals,\u201d Tatum said. \u201cSo you guys know that, the world knows that, the team knows that. So we need him to be the best version of ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brown is a free agent after next season. His future ,while not certain has never been more in doubt in the wake of those two recent interviews.<\/p>\n

In response to being yo-yoed on and off the trade block his entire career, Brown expressed a level of distrust of the Celtics organization and NBA teams as a whole. He discussed his relationship with Boston as a city and it’s troubled racial past and slow to change present. He labeled a portion of the Celtics fan base, toxic. Brown also made it be known that wherever his next playing destination is, it will be one where he feels “needed and treated correct.”<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m the type of person that likes to let people know how I\u2019m feeling about certain things and situations,\u201d Brown said after Friday’s game. \u201cSometimes when I don\u2019t speak, people speak for you. Sometimes things can get taken out of context and lost in translation when those things happen. But I pick and choose my spots.\u201d<\/p>\n