This summer must have been one of high anxiety for Celtics guard Jaylen Brown. After losing the NBA Finals to the Golden State Warriors, the Cs joined trade talks for several big-name players, including Kevin Durant.
Through it all, Jaylen's name was mentioned as a potential piece in the deal, and many fans took it as an opportunity to question and criticize the young swingman's game.
In a chat with Brandon 'Scoop B' Robinson, one of Jaylen's former teammates (young big man Tacko Fall) came to his defense in the media.
"I think Jaylen is very disrespected," Fall told Bovada's Brandon "Scoop B" Robinson. "I think he doesn’t get the praise he deserves sometimes and he’s a great player. Jaylen is nice, and for him, he's just got to keep doing what he’s doing. He’s very focused, he’s very locked in. He knows what he wants to accomplish, and they’re doing well. The outside noise doesn't really matter. It's what the organization thinks of him, and I know the organization thinks greatly of him," Fall added. "And I know he loves Boston, so that's all that matters."
Jaylen, 25, averaged 23.6 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game on 47.3% shooting last season. He stepped up as a scorer and defender to help Boston secure the East's top seed.
In the playoffs he was even better, pouring in consistently brilliant performances when his team needed them the most.
In truth, Jaylen Brown isn't a franchise-altering superstar. He's the type of guy you offer for Kevin Durant. Still, his value may be higher than people realize, and what he provides for the Celtics every game cannot be understated.
So even though the Celtics probably lost out on Durant, they can at least enjoy themselves knowing that Jaylen Brown is still on the roster.
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