Jaylen Brown made headlines this week, as he cast some doubt on his future with the Celtics in two separate interviews, one with The New York Times and the other with The Ringer.
“I don’t know,” Brown said to The Ringer when asked if he wants to stay in Boston long term. “As long as I’m needed. It’s not up to me. We’ll see how they feel about me over time and I feel about them over time. Hopefully, whatever it is, it makes sense. But I will stay where I’m wanted. I will stay where I’m needed and treated correct.”
Brown specifically addressed the “adversity” he is facing when it comes to buying a house and building his business in Boston, as well as some of the “toxic” fans within Celtics Nation. Brown also addressed his frustration with some on-court issues.
With under 10 games remaining in the regular season and such high expectations being placed on the team, the timing of this couldn’t be worse for the Celtics. Not to mention, there have been plenty of questions surrounding their play since the All-Star break, as they sit at 8-6 since the pause, which is just the sixth-best record in the Eastern Conference during that stretch.
The good thing for Brown, and Celtics fans, is that the team seems to be in Brown’s corner when it comes to his frustrations.
“Just listen,” Joe Mazzulla said when asked what he can do to help Brown through some of the challenges he is facing. “Listen to him more than anything, and see what he needs from me, whatever that might be. I love the conversations him and I have, I love the relationship that we’re building, and I just try to listen to him and all of our guys. Whatever they need, I’ll do.”
Brown has always done a good job of using his platform to spread what he believes in, especially when it comes to social justice. Like Brown, Mazzulla also sees the importance of using the platform provided.
“Listen to who they are, where they are coming from,” Boston’s head coach said. “Everyone has different perspectives, different passions, different backgrounds, and it’s important to appreciate those.”
Derrick White also took the side of Brown.
“I’ve seen a little bit of it,” White said when asked if the team had heard about the recent articles. “I didn’t see the whole quote and article about it, but I’ve loved being his teammate. Smart guy, deep thinker, so it’s been cool to pick his brain and just learn more about him, learn from how he’s grown up. I loved being his teammate.”
One thing you can’t teach is chemistry. You either have it or you don’t, and this Celtics’ team looks to be in good shape in that department.
“If you believe in something, stick with it, that’s really it,” Mazulla said about players making their views known. “Have the people around you that support you.”
One thing this Celtics’ team has done exceptionally well, dating back to last season, is power through adversity. Though this isn’t the kind of distraction you would want a team to be dealing with as they enter the most important part of the season, Brown has the support of his teammates and coaches. The drama didn’t seem to bother the team at practice on Thursday afternoon, as there were plenty of smiles on the court.