Don't count on Jaylen Brown to ease off at the start of the school year! NBA champion and Finals MVP, the Celtics winger still has the same thirst to win.
To re-motivate herself at the end of a rather successful 2023-2024 financial year, JB confided that she went to draw on the things that had upset her in recent weeks. Like not having been called up with Team USA to participate in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, but also not having been designated to appear on the All-NBA and All-Defense teams.
“I would be lying if I said otherwise”, he declared on the sidelines of the reigning champion’s return to school. “As a competitor, you are always looking for key elements that can help you get motivated, stay motivated and build your self-confidence. I'm already that kind of person. I'm always looking for something. But when things don’t go your way and those voices get louder, it pushes you to wake up even more and improve.”
An obsession: giving yourself challenges
Above all, Jaylen Brown has the particularity of being a hard worker. Taking care of his body and progressing in his game have become his main concerns. A quest for excellence which gradually turned into obsession, for the success we know.
“I’m obsessed with challenging myself”he slipped. “I kind of fell in love with it, so I’m always looking for new ways to progress.” The great thing is that there are so many ways to progress visible in me that everyone can see too. I was able to accomplish a lot when I wasn't even in my best shape. There is always a possibility of progress.”
If some believe that he has reached his best level, Jaylen Brown continues to rack his brains to try to find areas for progression, even outside of pure basketball. For example, it is now Drew Moore, the Celtics' performance therapist, who monitors his every move throughout his day. “From when I wake up, to when I eat breakfast, to when I go out, to my workouts. Everything is planned and that helps me to be disciplined.”
The discovery of apnea
To last, he also did exercise sessions… underwater! According to him, he would be able to keep his breathing underwater for three minutes thanks to the repetition of these exercises, and this would therefore be the reason for his success.
“Breathing is essential to life, and being underwater allows you to work on your breathing and develop it. The better you breathe, the better you do everything you have to do,” he continued. “I gained muscle when I came back last year and that allowed me to be healthier, not to have too many injuries, to protect my ligaments and joints. And then I got a boost for the playoffs. I was able to continue to play 70 games, defend all-court guys, play both ends of the court with intensity and maintain that pace until the Finals.”
| 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.
