Boston Celtics Commentary: Jaylen Brown is the Real Deal

Boston Celtics first-round pick Jaylen Brown is proving that he was worth taking with the 3^rd overall pick in the NBA draft.

He wasn’t the sexiest choice for a top 3 draft selection, but Jaylen Brown is proving that the Boston Celtics made the right choice. The rookie proved he may be something special Thursday night in a loss to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Brown made his first start in the NBA in the 128-122 defeat and didn’t back down from King James. He looked like a rookie at times, but the 20-year-old versatile forward proved he belonged in this league. He finished the game with 19 points on 8-for-16 shooting and most impressively went 3-for-6 from beyond the arc.

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Brown also pulled down five rebounds and showed his athleticism on multiple plays including out-muscling big man Kevin Love under the basket for an offensive rebound. The young kid has a long way to go to compete with a player the caliber of LeBron James on an equal level (if that is even possible), but he left the NBA’s best player impressed with the way he held his own.

"“I’m not going to tell you what I told him. If he wants to bring it up, that’s fine,” James said following the game. “But I think he’s a really good talent and that’s why he was drafted so high. He’s a strong kid. You can see he knows how to play the game.”"

Jaylen Brown also has a lot of raw talent that will only get better the more experience he gets. With the confidence Brad Stevens is showing by keeping him in the game during important stretches of games will only season that talent a lot quicker.

Also the respect he is getting from players such as James is another boost to his confidence. After the game, Brown mentioned what LeBron told him.

"“He just said he’ll see me down the road,” Brown said. “He said good job, and he said some other things that I ain’t gonna mention.”"

As Brown continues to prove himself on the court, he also recognizes the work that needs to be done off the court to become the player kids growing up will respect and model themselves after.

"“I guess it means a lot,” Brown continued. “I respect LeBron, not just on the floor but off, what he does off the floor donating to inner-city kids, how he handles himself. He’s never been in trouble with the law or anything like that. He’s just a great role model for somebody like me, and I watched him growing up and he’s kind of shaped how I am now. Just, off the floor, how he moves so, just how I respect him on the floor — I respect him even more off. He’s a great role model.“At the end of the day, I’m a competitor, and I think I’m more competitive than a lot of people in this league. I had a focus. I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t starstruck or anything. I came out and had a job to do and tried to do it to the best of my ability.”"

So far this young season, Jaylen Brown is proving that the Boston Celtics knew exactly what they were doing by selecting him with such a high pick. Fans are already seeing the kind of player he can be. It will definitely be fun watching how this young kid develops and morph into the kind of star the Celtics are now trying to trade for.

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Boston Celtics first-round pick Jaylen Brown is proving that he was worth taking with the 3rd overall pick in the NBA draft.

Boston Celtics first-round pick Jaylen Brown is proving that he was worth taking with the 3^rd overall pick in the NBA draft.