Jaylen Brown has been a force for the Boston Celtics this season. The All-Star wing has been in pristine form since the start, and his scoring prowess has been key in the team’s playoff run. Sharing his two cents on Brown’s elite play was OKC Thunder superstar Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander Credits Jaylen Brown’s Growth During Jayson Tatum’s Absence
The guard spoke of Brown’s stellar season after the Celtics beat the Thunder 119-109 at TD Garden on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters in the aftermath of the loss, Gilgeous-Alexander was all praise for Brown when asked about the superstar wing’s efforts.
“The opportunity, first and foremost. With Jayson Tatum getting hurt, the ball is in his hands more. More reps. It seems like he’s shooting the mid-range really well,” Gilgeous-Alexander said.
“His coach is Sam Cassell, so I’m pretty sure he probably has a little something to do with that. But yeah, good player. He’s aggressive. We didn’t make him pass the ball enough tonight. He was getting to his spots. He was in the teeth of the defense. Good player.”
The guard’s take comes in the wake of Brown’s solid run this season, as he became a key offensive weapon for Boston while Jayson Tatum was sidelined. The Celtics were expected to face challenges after roster adjustments; however, they have remained one of the teams to beat in the East, with Brown leading the charge while Tatum recovered from a torn Achilles.
Brown ended with a team-high 31 points, coupled with eight rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. He saw able support in Tatum, who contributed 19 points and 12 rebounds. For the Thunder, Gilgeous-Alexander recorded 33 points and eight assists.
Both Gilgeous-Alexander and Brown are also viewed as NBA MVP candidates this season. The Thunder guard continues to be a 30-point metronome, averaging 31.8 points per game. Brown is averaging 28.4 points per contest. While the scoring numbers show a difference, the latter’s impact in leading the Celtics during Tatum’s long absence keeps him in the conversation.
The Thunder vs. Celtics matchups have been widely regarded as an NBA Finals preview. The speculation makes sense considering the run of form both teams have enjoyed. While OKC is well on its way to another 60-win season, Boston currently sits as the second seed in the East as the regular season inches toward a close.
With Tatum back in the fold, all eyes will be on the Celtics to see if they can repeat the magic of their 2024 NBA Finals run. It also remains to be seen if Brown can keep up his consistency in the postseason.
