Jaylen Brown Talks 'Underappreciated' Label Before Celtics Opener, Chance to 'Step Up'
Jaylen Brown feels being sometimes "underappreciated" for his role with the Boston Celtics was worth being part of a championship team in 2024, he recently told NBC Sports Boston's Michael Holley.
"In a sense, at times it's been that," the 2024 NBA Finals MVP said when asked if he felt if the word "underappreciated" applied to him at the 9:45 mark of the interview.
Brown continued, "But that comes with the decisions that you make. In order to be a winner, you've got to sacrifice to be part of a team. Nothing's wrong with that. People make this seem like it's a complaint, or I'm complaining. No. I'll make that decision every time over.
"That doesn't mean you're not capable of doing more. That doesn't mean you're not capable of displaying a higher level of talent. But I want the young people to know that there's nothing wrong with contributing to a team, contributing to a goal that's bigger than you. Doesn't always have to be about you. There's a lot of honor in that."
Brown continued, "For me, it's always been about the team. I've always been the team guy. Never had a problem, you know what I mean? Never had an issue with anything when it comes to contributing to winning and a goal.
"But when you say underappreciated— I think sometimes people forget who you are, what you're capable of, or if you went somewhere else, what that would look like, and that's just a part of it. So, when you say underappreciated, it doesn't have to have a negative connotation to it. I think that it's fine. But at times like now, where the team looks different, I have opportunities to step up and show more."
Brown was named both Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Finals MVP during the Celtics' run to the 2024 title, which he capped off by contributing 21 points, eight rebounds and six assists in a championship-clinching Game 5 win over the Dallas Mavericks.
But he has never before been the top offensive option for the Celtics, who have had Jayson Tatum serving that role in each of the past six seasons.
Brown will be called on to step into that No. 1 spot now that Tatum, who suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon during the Eastern Conference Finals in May, could be sidelined for the entirety of the 2025-26 season.
He will now be tasked with helping cover for Tatum's missing offense while maintaining his role as a top perimeter defender for the Celtics.
Brown told Holley fans might get more of a look at his playmaking now that the Celtics roster is missing Tatum to injury, Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porziņģis to trades and Al Horford and Luke Kornet to free agency.
"I think I've been put in the role over the last two years to be more of a playmaker. My assists have taken a jump. And I think year will be a good display of me being able to make players for others," Brown said. "We're a less talented team than we were last year, so it'll require more of me to be able to make plays for others, because it's going to be more obvious if not."
The Celtics are set to open the 2025-26 regular season Wednesday night against the visiting Philadelphia 76ers. Boston will hope to have Brown, who recovered from offseason surgery on his right knee only to suffer a hamstring injury during the preseason, healthy enough to rejoin his team for the 7:30 p.m. ET tip-off.
