Jaylen Brown is having a hell of a week in Boston, and it’s only Thursday.
Brown kicked off Sunday in green, captaining a float for his 741 apparel brand in the South Boston St. Patrick’s Day parade. He was flooded with “MVP” chants from the crowded sidewalks.
“It’s love out here. It’s cold, but I feel nothing but warm,” he said, donning St. Paddy’s beads and a jacket that read “18 TIME CHAMPIONS” while live streaming on his online Twitch channel from the float. “The energy is crazy.”
He went on to drop 41 points on the overachieving Phoenix Suns the following night – his sixth performance putting up 40 points or more this year.
That show earned more MVP chants, but postgame, Brown admitted being surrounded by the parade revelers might have been a bigger moment.
“It’s pretty awesome at this point of my career to get that love from the fans. It was pretty cool too, I was in Southie yesterday during the day and I got some MVP chants as well, in Southie. I think that might have been a little cooler,” he said.
The banner week rolled on with a 32-point performance in a 120-99 domination of the visiting Golden State Warriors, who were without Steph Curry and Al Horford. Brown’s 19 points to begin the game matched a season high. More notably, he moved into the Celtics’ top-10 all-time scoring list.
"It just goes to show the dedication, the commitment that he’s made to his craft, and getting better every single year," Jayson Tatum said postgame.
These few days are a notable and welcome departure from last week. The Celtics had a pair of the most challenging road games in the regular season when they traveled out to San Antonio and Oklahoma City. Brown’s prided himself on his leadership this year – as he should – but he totally lost his cool following what he perceived as a missed call against the Spurs, and subsequently got himself tossed out of what could have been a signature win for Boston. He redeemed his composure with a 34-point game against the Thunder but made further waves with officials by criticizing what he perceives as “foul-baiting” behavior after the game. Brown never name-checked reigning league MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, but he trails only Luka Doncic in free throw attempts per game.
If there are two qualities about Brown that are clear through this week, it’s this: he’s going to feel and share everything all that he can, authentically, and yes– for the love of all that’s good – he’s just as great out there sharing the playmaking with Tatum, who played in his sixth game following his return from Achilles repair.
Brown and Tatum have been undefeated through games in which they’re both available for all four quarters this year. Brown’s playmaking ability has exploded over the last three seasons. Where he once dribbled into traffic and found himself an occasional punchline, he’s now mastered the inside-out game, empowering the supporting cast. Tatum’s looked like a guy with eyes in the back of his head since he came back from his injury, and it’s worth wondering whether he’s gained a little something from watching from the bench this fall and winter.
Thursday marks the end of Ramadan, the holiest month for Muslims. Brown has observed the holiday for several years, fasting from sunup to sundown.
“Ramadan brings great clarity in general, in terms of just one who’s on his own journey to just spiritually grow. And I think that translates to the basketball court, and that’s fair,” Brown said after Monday’s win.
“To be honest, this wasn’t my best year fasting,” he further shared. “There’s lost of ups and downs, physically, mentally emotionally.”
Brown has proven his resiliency during “downs,” be they boos on draft night, past trade rumors or the natural sacrifice that comes with playing among other stars. A Boston fan can only hope this week’s “ups,” from MVP chants in South Boston to the baseline at TD Garden, will stay with Brown for some time to come.