“It’s a state of mind: I don’t care if I’m booed or greeted. I do not allow either of these two emotions to have any effect. » here's how Jaylen Brown sums up his mentality. With a sixth conference final in eight years, the Boston player can cover his ears to outside noise: he lets his game provide the answers.
However, he was not always so impervious to criticism. “There was pressure, for sure, but we manage and take things one after the other”, he assures. “We don’t let ourselves get discouraged. There is only one direction to follow: progress. Sometimes I ignore everything and just be the best version of myself, to bring added value to the team. »
Can he really ignore the negative comments about him or the Celtics? “I accepted it. No matter how much criticism we receive, no matter how good our performances are, it's always the criticism that comes first. I've had a hard time accepting it at times, but as I progress in my career, it's like that.”book Jaylen Brown.
Villain or robot, Jaylen Brown remains unmoved
Therefore, there is no point in thinking about reaching the Boston player with the argument that the Celtics took advantage of a royal road to the conference final. In the first round, the Heat did not fight with Jimmy Butler, their best player, then Cleveland was deprived of Jarrett Allen and especially Donovan Mitchell in the last two games.
“I don’t think there’s any easy path. You always have to play. I have nothing to say about this notion of ease. We're not going to apologize for winning.”responds Boston's second best scorer with an average of 23.1 points since the start of the playoffs.
Jaylen Brown is even willing to accept doubts and criticism and carry them on his back, becoming the villain of the story. “Whatever we do, we are always observed, and even if we are good, it is never enough, we will never have the praise or the attention of the media,” he believes. “It’s hard, but that’s how it is. You have to accept being the bad guy. As I get older, I start to accept it more. »
And if the naughty side bothers, he has another image in stock. “It makes us a little stoic”he explains regarding the success of the Celtics over the years despite the pressure. “I've adopted that over the years and I appreciate it even more: being a robot. We come and we do what we have to do. And that's all. »
| Jaylen Brown | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2016-17 | BOS | 78 | 17 | 45.4 | 34.1 | 68.5 | 0.6 | 2.2 | 2.8 | 0.8 | 1.8 | 0.5 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 6.6 |
| 2017-18 | BOS | 70 | 31 | 46.5 | 39.5 | 64.4 | 0.9 | 4.0 | 4.9 | 1.6 | 2.6 | 1.0 | 1.8 | 0.4 | 14.5 |
| 2018-19 | BOS | 74 | 26 | 46.5 | 34.4 | 65.8 | 0.9 | 3.4 | 4.2 | 1.4 | 2.5 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.4 | 13.0 |
| 2019-20 | BOS | 57 | 34 | 48.1 | 38.2 | 72.4 | 1.1 | 5.3 | 6.4 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 1.1 | 2.2 | 0.4 | 20.3 |
| 2020-21 | BOS | 58 | 35 | 48.4 | 39.7 | 76.4 | 1.2 | 4.8 | 6.0 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 1.2 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 24.7 |
| 2021-22 | BOS | 66 | 34 | 47.3 | 35.8 | 75.8 | 0.8 | 5.3 | 6.1 | 3.5 | 2.5 | 1.1 | 2.7 | 0.3 | 23.6 |
| 2022-23 | BOS | 67 | 36 | 49.1 | 33.5 | 76.5 | 1.2 | 5.7 | 6.9 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 1.1 | 2.9 | 0.4 | 26.6 |
| 2023-24 | BOS | 70 | 34 | 49.9 | 35.4 | 70.3 | 1.2 | 4.3 | 5.5 | 3.6 | 2.6 | 1.2 | 2.4 | 0.5 | 23.0 |
| Total | 540 | 30 | 48.0 | 36.4 | 72.0 | 1.0 | 4.3 | 5.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 2.1 | 0.4 | 18.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
