Jaylen Brown entered the league as the 3rd pick of the 2016 NBA Draft class. Being selected that highly naturally meant that his new team, the Celtics , had big expectations for their rookie. However, the young Brown quickly added to that sentiment himself, speaking boldly after being drafted.
"I always have a point to prove where I have a chip on my shoulder at all times. Whether I was the 1 pick in the draft [or] 2, it's always something to prove. It's not about the position in the draft, I want to be a top-5 player in the league one day. I've said that before, and I stick to it," Brown declared , per ESPN.
Brown vowed to succeed
JB joined the C's after a mixed freshman season at the University of California, Berkeley. Although he had averaged 14.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors and being named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, the Golden Bears fell short of their goals. The athletic talent didn't shy away from taking responsibility for this.
"I put a lot of blame on myself because, being highly recruited out of high school, I felt obligated to do much better than I did. We came up short," he remarked. "But it's all about getting better and adding fuel to the flame. So now I'm here in Boston. Now I'm ready to rip somebody's head off."
To achieve these goals, the then-19-year-old had already devised a game plan—one that surely made Celtics fans' hearts soar.
"I'm gonna go to war for this city," Brown proclaimed. "I'm going to play with a lot of passion and leave it all on the floor every night."
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Coming closer to his rookie goal
JB had a solid rookie season, effectively contributing off the bench and earning a few starting spots. By the end of the 2016-17 season, the 6'6" guard-forward combo was named to the NBA All-Rookie Second Team.
In his sophomore year, Brown's game took a noticeable leap. His athleticism and newfound aggression helped him drive to the basket more effectively. The Georgia native also showed a more reliable jump shot and improved his already strong defense. This progress led many to believe that if JB could add consistency and stay healthy, he would soon become an All-Star.
Those predictions came true after the 2020-21 campaign when Brown earned his first All-Star nod. However, the biggest highlight followed during the last playoffs. The C's dominated the regular season and went on to clinch the championship title. Jaylen stood out during this impressive run and won the Finals MVP award, edging out his teammate, NBA superstar Jayson Tatum.
At 27 years old and just hitting his prime, JB may not have fully reached his initial goal of becoming a top-five player in the league yet. However, he still has plenty of time and, with the Celtics, the ideal circumstances to keep improving.
Related: “He fits hand and glove as a Celtic” - Isiah Thomas vouched for Jaylen Brown before 2016 NBA Draft
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