Boston Celtics: Jaylen Brown striving for a super sophomore season

Jaylen Brown is looking to build off his rookie season. The Boston Celtics 2016 first-round pick have set goals for the upcoming 2017 NBA season.

The Boston Celtics have made some nice additions this offseason. Along with the No. 3 overall pick Jayson Tatum, the team has signed All-Star forward Gordon Hayward and acquired Marcus Morris in a trade for Avery Bradley. That trade might just open up some extensive playing time for second-year man Jaylen Brown.

The 2016 No. 3 overall pick had fans buzzing with his opening night performance in the Utah Summer League. He looked like a man amongst boys scoring 29 points and ripping down 13 rebounds.

While the rest of the summer league was pretty quiet for Brown, he did get an opportunity to improve his game and see what he could do from the shooting guard position. As a player who was already known for his athleticism and versatility, Brown knows he has to work on the other intangibles if he is to fill Bradley’s role at the shooting guard position. Especially on the defensive end.

In a conference call from South Africa where he is a participant in the NBA’s Basketball Without Borders Program, Brown talked about his performance in the summer league as well as the expectations he has for the upcoming season.

"“I still have things, there are still nuances to that side of the game that I’m still working on,” Brown said in the conference call, as transcribed by The Boston Herald. “So being a ball handler, creating for others, running the team, being a leader, that type of stuff is going to help me in the long run, and that’s the type of stuff I was trying to excel at and work on in summer league.”More from Chowder and Champions3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster DeadlineMLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 SeasonRed Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win"

Hoping to get more offensive

With the valuable experience Brown gained during his rookie season, including earning playing time in the playoffs, the second-year man also hopes to improve on his offensive game.

While he showed flashes of his scoring ability through stretches of the season, he knows he has to be able to create his own shot and find different ways to put the ball in the bucket.

"“I think I’ve really made strides in scoring at different levels,” Brown continued. “I think I’ve gotten better in my arsenal, and I think defensively I’ve improved as well. Just getting stronger, getting faster, more explosive … just being a better athlete helps you be a better defender, better basketball player, so I think that’s helped me out a lot. I’m just happy to be in a position where I’m able to just play this game for a living. It’s truly a blessing.”"

Next: Boston Celtics: 3 greatest games of Paul Pierce’s career in green

Brown also strives to become a smarter player in becoming a better player in the league. If he does become more explosive, he could easily make fans get over the loss of Avery Bradley.

It’s a tall task, but it sounds like Jaylen Brown is up to it and more than ready to take another big step in his NBA career.

Home/Boston Celtics