Celtics' Jaylen Brown on Trade Rumors, Criticism: 'Always Have a Chip on My Shoulder'

Jaylen Brown has been criticized over his handle with his left hand. His attitude has been called into question. Some fans believe he's overpaid after signing a five-year extension worth up to $304 million, or that he's simply Jayson Tatum's sidekick.

And he's used it all as motivation.

"I always have a chip on my shoulder because I feel like how I think of myself, others don't think of me," he told Melissa Rohlin of Fox Sports. "It makes you want to go work and go out and prove everything."

Granted, Brown is a three-time All-Star. The Celtics clearly believed in him enough to give him that massive extension. More than a few folks were upset on his behalf when he was snubbed for All-NBA this season, including his own teammates.

But professional athletes often use every last ounce of motivation they can get. Brown is no exception.

"All the things that I thought were setting me back or adversity ended up being the biggest blessings," he told Rohlin. "Getting moved to the bench, even trade talks, getting booed, whatever the fans were saying, overpaid, overrated. All of that stuff made me who I am today. It drove my work ethic. And it drove my demeanor."

Now, he's three games away from being a first-time champion with the Celtics. He was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP after averaging 29.8 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals per game in the series. Dallas Mavericks head coach Jason Kidd publicly said he believes Brown is Boston's best player, not Tatum.

"Jaylen is their best player," he told reporters. "Just looking at what he does defensively. He picked up Luka [Dončić] full court. He got to the free-throw line. He did everything, and that's what your best player does."

That may have been Kidd subtly needling Tatum, or it may have been genuine. He wouldn't be the only person to believe it if he was telling the truth, however, even if Tatum is often treated as Boston's top gun.

Either way, Brown seems comfortable with the player he's become. And if he becomes a champion, there won't be much fuel left for his detractors.