Jaylen Brown exited Thursday night’s Boston Celtics-Minnesota Timberwolves game after falling to the floor late in the third quarter, but he was able to walk off the injury and into the locker room.
Brown was streaking towards the basket on a drive and dunked the ball home. But as he came down from the dunk, he lost his grip on the rim and fell on his back/neck area. Brown’s arms immediately clenched after his fall, which is a symptom of a concussion.
Jaylen Brown still on the floor after this and they are bringing out the stretcher. Hoping this isn’t serious pic.twitter.com/4loMX00oLP
Boston Celtics teammates huddled around Brown as he received medical attention in Minnesota. The second-year guard was able to move his arms and then got up to walk off the floor. He received a standing ovation from the fans in attendance.
Jaylen Brown walks off the court after a scary fall he took on a fast-break dunk. pic.twitter.com/pAEMfQAx2i
Andre Drummond thinks that Jaylen Brown should humble himself.
Drummond, the Detroit Pistons center, was named an Eastern Conference All-Star earlier this week as an injury replacement for Washington Wizards guard John Wall. News of Drummond’s selection was met by cryptic tweets from both Brown, the Boston Celtics swingman, and Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons hinting that they felt snubbed.
“No [sic] sure why Jaylen Brown is confused,” Drummond wrote. “He’s not even the top 3 option on his team. Got a lot of respect for Ben, his time is coming sooner than he knows.”
The argument seems to go both ways — the 21-year-old Brown has been one of the most important two-way players for the Eastern Conference-best Celtics this season, but his averages of 14.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game are hardly eye-popping. In any case, we wonder if Drummond has a problem with any of these other players who felt that they were snubbed.
Ben Simmons and Jaylen Brown had a second chance at making the All-Star team and neither made it. Both players seemed to be pretty bothered by it.
The All-Star team needed a replacement for Washington Wizards guard John Wall, who will miss 6-8 weeks due to a knee injury. On Tuesday, the NBA announced that Detroit Pistons big man Andre Drummond would replace Wall.
It’s hard to argue with the Drummond selection. He’s averaging 14.7 points, 15.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game. Simmons is averaging 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 7.3 assists per game in what is his first season of action. He’ll probably end up on some All-Star teams in the future. Brown is averaging 14.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
The calendar has flipped to November, Daylight Savings Time is no more, and most teams have played their first ten games or so, leaving roughly 72 contests remaining on the schedule. Of course, that can only mean one thing: [sounds airhorn] it’s Overreaction Season. And perhaps the most sacred of all the Overreaction Season traditions is fangirling over those who have successfully turned those 3 a.m. Instagram workouts and that reported 15 pounds of extra muscle into greater productivity on the court. Standing high above the rest of the field, here are the 12 most improved players of the 2017-18 season so far:
Kristaps Porzingis, PF, New York Knicks
Carmelo Anthony’s departure was all that was needed for our Latvian messiah to reveal himself fully. Porzingis has mutated into a nightly 30-point scoring threat now that he is the focal point of the Knickerbockers’ offense (sometimes even 40 as he proved on Sunday night in a comeback win over the Indiana Pacers), and he has been stunningly efficient despite the massive increase in volume (a career-high 50.0 percent shooting). One of Porzingis’ teammates thinks his scorching start should place him squarely in the MVP conversation. I might even take it a step further and call for beatification if he continues to flex with end-to-end displays of power like this:
Spacing saves. With Carmelo Anthony starting at power forward instead of Taj Gibson, and Paul George stretching out opposing defenses instead of Victor Oladipo, Adams can finally rumble down the lane to his heart’s content for the Thunder. He has responded to the opportunity in kind with his best season both scoring (12.4 points per game) and rebounding (8.3 boards). Toss in his intimidating interior defense, and this mustachioed maestro looks like he’s worth every penny of the $100 million that Oklahoma City invested in him last season. What else is there to say? Funaki is a force.
It certainly didn’t take long for Jaylen Brown to get his slice of humble pie.
Prior to Friday’s Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and his Boston Celtics, the rookie forward made some remarks about how he wasn’t intimidated by LeBron James (see here).
Unfortunately for Brown, the Celtics went on to get thoroughly dismantled by James and the Cavs on Friday in a 130-86 nuclear annihilation, and an image of him sulking on the bench quickly got the meme treatment.
Jaylen Brown before Game 2: "I have no fear whatsoever of LeBron."
Jaylen Brown isn’t going to let The King rook him.
Prior to Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday, the Boston Celtics rookie was asked about the challenge of defending LeBron James.
“I mean LeBron’s a good player, but I look at him as just a regular guy to me,” said Brown, according to CSN New England. “I’ve gotta come out and compete just like he has to come out and compete. I gotta tie my shoes just like he ties his shoes. There’s bigger threats in my neighborhood than LeBron James, so I have no fear whatsoever of LeBron.”
James dropped a rather effortless 38 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists in the Cavs’ victory over the Celtics in Game 1 and has seemed to be at another level entirely this postseason, even by his standards. For Brown, who, as one of Boston’s bigger wings, will likely see more time this series matched up one-on-one with the four-time MVP, the fearlessness is certainly commendable. But the last time a rookie puffed out his chest out James in the postseason didn’t exactly go so well, so Brown should probably proceed with caution here.
The NBA Slam Dunk Contest could be getting some new blood this year.
In an appearance this week on CSN New England’s Post Up, Boston Celtics rookie Jaylen Brown confirmed that he has been invited to participate in the All-Star Weekend competition but is currently undecided if he will accept.
Jabari Young of the San Antonio Express-News adds that Spurs shooting guard Jonathon Simmons will be invited to compete as well.
Meanwhile, source tells me #NBA plans to invite Jonathon Simmons to participate in the Slam Dunk contest #Spurs
Neither player is a household name, but both would be strong choices to participate as they have already treated us to a number of jaw-dropping in-game dunks this season.
It stands to reason that reigning back-to-back champion Zach LaVine and runner-up Aaron Gordon will be invited back to round out the field and settle some unfinished business from last year, so this could be one of our deepest pools of dunkers in a long time.
NBA rookies look up to LeBron James, and Jaylen Brown is no exception.
The Celtics rookie faced off against James and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time in his young career Thursday, and after the game, Brown reflected on what James means to him both on and off the court.
A great quote from a great kid in Jaylen Brown. Truly believe @KingJames would appreciate these comments more than most other compliments. pic.twitter.com/5laTzY0VrA
Brown probably isn’t the only one who thinks this. We also know that James takes his responsibilities as a mentor seriously, and has gone out of his way to help another star rookie find his footing in the NBA.
Perhaps Brad Stevens really is an unparalleled basketball genius.
According to a report by Celtics beat writer A. Sherrod Blakely of Comcast SportsNet, No. 3 overall pick Jaylen Brown could see time at power forward for Boston next season in addition to his more natural small forward position. Blakely also notes that Brown is expected to serve as Jae Crowder’s backup.
The 19-year-old Brown showed tremendous aggressive and scoring ability in Summer League play earlier this month but still needs to add more bulk to his 225-lb. frame in order to succeed at the 4. Otherwise, Brown has superb physical attributes, quickness, and athleticism, so it looks like he has a decent ceiling as a hybrid forward (think a sort of Shawn Marion Lite).
The Cal product still needs to improve on his outside stroke (he shot just 29.4 percent from deep in his lone season for the Golden Bears). But considering, amongst his many other skills, the positional versatility and the competitive spirit he brings to the table, Brown might actually have even more potential than originally thought.
Rest assured, Boston fans: the juices of competition flow vigorously through the veins of Jaylen Brown.
The Celtics rookie made headlines on Thursday after dunking on a child at a summer camp for committing a very particular offense, per Jay King of MassLive.com. The youngster’s transgression? Having the temerity to suggest that Ben Simmons is better than Brown.
Jaylen Brown on the kid he dunked on: "He said Ben Simmons is better."
Here is video of Brown dropping the hammer of basketball justice on the head of the miscreant young whippersnapper:
Truth be told however, the kid was probably right. The 19-year-old Brown, who was chosen by the Celtics No. 3 overall in last week’s draft, two picks after Simmons, has a lot to prove after many a critic blasted the pick as a reach.
Brown doesn’t quite have the superstar potential that Simmons has. But what he does have is a natural gift for scoring, outrageous athleticism, and the physical gifts to defend multiple positions at the NBA-level. Throw in this double dose of competitive fire to silence all doubters, no matter their age, and Brown could be well on his way to living up to the lofty expectations that come with being a top-three draft selection in the Association.
