Celtics' Jaylen Brown Gives Advice After Opening Up About Anxiety, Depression in Video
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown offered some advice Wednesday to those who are battling anxiety and depression after opening up about some of his own struggles.
In an interview with the School of Hard Knocks on Instagram (h/t Madz Dizon of Athlon Sports), Brown provided some insight into his mental health journey, saying: "I've dealt with anxiety, even depression. I've been to some very dark places. But I feel like those dark places have allowed my light to shine."
The 28-year-old also laid out the potential path forward for those who are going through some of the same things he did, adding: "It's OK. Never let anything break your spirit. Everybody's gonna deal with adversity at some point—even plants struggle to get sunlight."
Brown is preparing to enter his 10th NBA season, all of which have been spent in Boston.
Originally the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft out of Cal, Brown has been named an All-Star in each of the past three seasons and three of the past four.
He was also named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP in 2024 when the Celtics won their 18th NBA championship in franchise history.
Brown's scoring was down a bit last season, as he averaged 22.2 points per game on 46.3 percent shooting, but all signs point toward him being the unquestioned go-to guy for Boston during the 2025-26 campaign.
With star forward Jayson Tatum set to miss most or all of next season with a torn Achilles, Brown will lead the way for a Celtics team also set to feature Derrick White, Anfernee Simons and Payton Pritchard.
The Celtics figure to face some adversity as a whole next season with Tatum on the shelf and after the departure of key veterans in Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porziņģis and Al Horford, but Brown seems to possess the right outlook to be the leader the Celtics need.
