UNCASVILLE, Conn. – At the end of Friday’s practice, Jaylen Brown and Marcus Smart played a little one-on-one at one of the far courts at the practice facility.
Smart has strength.
Brown has length.
Score one – no, actually two – for strength with Smart making sure anyone within earshot of the court knew that he beat the rookie.
For Brown, that was just another lesson from one of the many veterans he has made a point to learn as much as he can from, quickly.
Brown’s open-minded approach to the game is one of the reasons why the 19-year-old’s transition thus far has been a relatively smooth one.
He hopes to continue along those lines today when the Celtics face the Charlotte Hornets for the second time in three days.
“I’m just trying to get better, learn as much as I can, every day,” Brown told CSNNE.com. “I have a great group of veterans who are helping me, teaching me all the time.”
Indeed, Brown appears to be a quick study.
In the first two preseason games, Brown is averaging 10 points, 4.5 rebounds in 21.5 minutes per game.
More than the numbers, Brown has shown himself to be a high-energy, difference-making talent who figures prominently into the Celtics’ plans this season in large part because of his versatility.
Although he spent most of his lone season at Cal as a wing guard/forward, the Celtics have also used Brown at times at power forward during the preseason.
Brown isn’t giving any thought to what position he’s asked to play.
He’s not concerned about what positon he’s called upon to play for the Celtics.
“The big thing for me is to stay ready to play"
“Jaylen’s going to be an important part of our team because of his versatility,” said Celtics head coach Brad Stevens. “And the more comfortable he gets playing either position, the better chance he has of being impactful at some point early. That’s certainly his goal.”
Brown, selected by Boston with the No. 3 overall pick in last June’s NB draft, knows he has walked into a situation that is very different than most players taken so close to the top of the draft board.
Players selected among the top-3 picks often go to non-playoff teams which have a vacancy at their respective position which makes getting on the floor right away a lot easier.
But that is not the lot in life for Brown, who plays behind Jae Crowder who like Brown, plays both small forward and power forward.
While the path to playing major minutes is indeed tougher for Brown, he believes in the end it will turn out to be a blessing for him.
Knowing how talented the players ahead of him are as well as those he is surrounded by, Brown said it has forced him to be more focused than ever on doing whatever he is tasked with doing in practice as well as in games.
“Being a rookie coming in, slow and steady wins the race,” he said. “I’m trying to take my time, not rush anything. Just trying to learn as much as I can right away.”
Being on a team that’s focused on making a deep playoff run, Brown realizes that the level of patience coaches have with players in his shoes is not great.
“It’s tough for a rookie; there’s not as much patience. If you mess up on a play and a vet messes up on a play it’s different because you’re a rookie,” Brown said. “Most situations if a rookie’s not performing to the level of the rest of the team, teams may be like ‘we’ll stash him later’ or ‘he’ll play next year.’ I really have to be on point; I really have to be on time, I really have to be locked in and I really have to be focused. I’m just trying to stay as grounded and level-headed as possible.”
And keep learning from all his experiences, even the ones that he doesn’t like – like losing to Smart.
“He’s going to tell the world; I’m never going to hear the end of it,” Brown said. “I’m going to have to hear this for like the next two weeks.”
And yes, Smart can be a bit physical – shocker I know – with his own teammates from time to time.
“So now I have to play him and play football with him,” quipped Brown, referring to Smart’s physical brand of basketball. “And beat him at his own game (Saturday) so he can be quiet. So I’m gonna hear it, for forever now.”