Jaylen Brown: Celtics Trade Rumors, Draft Boos Have 'Driven Me,' 'Made Me The Best'

Jaylen Brown said that his career in Boston has been "very, very challenging" at times due to his name being dropped in trade talks and fans booing his selection on draft night, among other adversities.

But he also believes it has helped him grow as a player and person.

"Things have not gone my way. I haven't been catered to, in a sense, which has made me stronger," he told Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix. "I think it has made me a better player, has driven me. I can complain, but in reality, it made me the best. So I'm grateful for it. Even if it was indirect, I know that it wasn't intentional. It is what it is. It made me better. I know there were a lot of people who didn't believe I would be in the position I am now. Some were in this building, some are no longer here, but I am. So I'm grateful, that's how I would describe it."

Brown, 28, has evolved into one of the NBA's best two-way players, averaging 22.9 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists and 1.2 steals this season. He's a three-time All-Star, and while he's often seen as Boston's No. 2 option behind Jayson Tatum, it was Brown who earned both the Eastern Conference Finals and NBA Finals MVP honors during last season's championship run.

And he's not done yet.

"I still think I have ceilings to reach," he told Mannix. "I don't feel like I've reached my ceiling. I still feel like there are things that I am still developing and I'm still working through with this organization, but it's no problem. And this is what I want the youth to hear. There's nothing wrong with being a part of a team and being a part of something bigger than yourself. Winning the championship was one of my goals and it brought me so much joy to be a part of that. I would just say there's no problem with being that."