BOSTON – Jaylen Brown showed Friday night why he should have been chosen to participate in the Rising Stars Challenge at All-Star Weekend this February.
The rookie made his second consecutive start as the Celtics hosted the Orlando Magic at TD Garden, and he delivered with the best performance of his young career.
With starters Avery Bradley (Achilles) and Al Horford (groin) sidelined, the Celtics needed multiple players to step up and fill their voids. Brown was Boston's primary source of fuel out of the gate, as he provided 11 of his career-high 20 points during the first quarter alone.
“He's aggressive and he never gives up,” Marcus Smart remarked on Brown's poised willingness to take initiative. “He keeps going, and as a young player you've gotta have that confidence.”
Brown's fast start helped Boston to take a 39-24 lead after one quarter, and ultimately propelled the C's to a 128-98 win over Orlando.
The 20-year-old rookie typically does not stay on the floor for lengthy stretches – he averaged just 13.5 minutes per game entering Friday night – so his stats are somewhat skewed compared to many other promising NBA rookies and sophomores. His inconsistent playing time and limited role on a top team likely made a significant impact on his bid to be selected as a Rising Star.
But Brown, who also corralled a career-high eight rebounds against the Magic, has shown that he can be a force on the floor when he is given extended playing time. Friday was the perfect example, as he took advantage of each of his 30 minutes on the court.
“We talk all the time, and we've made mention that playing minutes is certainly part of the development experience, but there's a lot more that goes into that,” said coach Brad Stevens after the game. “He spends a lot of time studying. He had a great workout yesterday on an off day where he came in and put a lot of time in on both ends of the floor, and I thought he did a lot of good things.
“The hard part in this league is being able to do it every night, and doing it over and over and over. But he certainly is a guy that is continuing to put in the work and certainly is capable of becoming a guy that is very consistent.”
Brown is constantly being praised for his work ethic, and his persistent efforts in the gym have led to growth on the court. He has shown flashes of brilliance throughout the season with his exhilarating athleticism, and has shown improvements in his shooting and basketball IQ as his rookie campaign has unfurled.
The No. 3 overall pick has begun to develop a more consistent role with the Celtics lately, which is challenging to do as a rookie on one of the top teams in the league.
That's why Brown's teammates believe he was snubbed for next month's Rising Stars Challenge.
“A guy that has a big role on a playoff team should always be selected to games like that because there's a lot of guys that are playing on teams that aren't even going to make the Playoffs,” said Isaiah Thomas, who was selected Thursday night to his second All-Star Game. “They're definitely going to get the opportunity and the playing time, but he has a role on this team and we will be a playoff team. And I think he should have made it.”
Smart, who appeared in last season's Rising Stars Challenge, echoed Thomas' thoughts.
“For him to come in and give (a successful team) what he's giving is tremendous,” said Smart, “and I think he should have made it.”
Brown, however, took the high road when asked about not being selected.
“It's all fuel to the fire, but it's not the end of the world,” he calmly stated. “I just gotta continue to get better and come out and show it.
Friday's game was one of a handful of occasions that Brown has been asked to step up and fill a void this season. He delivered with energy and confidence as he typically does in such situations, but this time he also racked up impressive numbers in the box score.
Brown's performance further proved his case that he should be playing next month in New Orleans alongside the rest of the league's top young rookies and sophomores.
Instead, Brown will spend All-Star Weekend in the gym in Boston as he continues to work on his game. For him, that's a satisfying alternative.
Regardless of whether or not he was selected to suit up alongside his other promising young peers, the Celtics rookie has shown many times, and most recently Friday night, that he is a rising star in his own right.
