This time last year, star swingman Jaylen Brown was preparing to start his 10th season with the Boston Celtics. After leading his team to a title one year before, he was confident in what he and the Celtics could do. But now, after a blown 3-1 lead in the first round of the playoffs, Brown is on the Philadelphia 76ers with a goal to make amends for his failures.
As it stands, it’s still too early to tell how the new-look 76ers will play, but there are positive signs of what we should expect. According to Jaylen Brown, who recently spoke on Twitch, part of his transition process involves a longer workout routine to accommodate the sped-up tempo. Jaylen says he’s faster and more agile than ever before, which should help him be even more effective on the court.
“It’s going to take a lot of kind of feeling things out with each other, everybody getting on the same page, constant communication,” Brown said on Twitch. “Just to be a little more fast and nimble. I’ve got to keep up with Maxey and Edgecombe and LeBron this year. I feel great. I’m jumping higher and running faster.”
At 6’6″ and 223 pounds, Jaylen Brown has always been the ideal size for a two-way wing player, and the result has been steady production on the court with career averages of 20.0 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 0.4 blocks per game on 47.7% shooting from the field and 34.7% shooting from three. On the 76ers, however, Jaylen will have to adjust to a new role, and his goal this summer is to learn as much as he can from his new teammates.
“We got Bron. What an opportunity that is,” Brown said. “To have the opportunity to learn from one of, if not the greatest player of all time. I get an opportunity to, on the court, off the court, learn and gather experiences that can accumulate to my own knowledge base. It’s also other guys you get the opportunity to learn from. Embiid, Maxey, Edgecombe, even vets like [Kentavious Caldwell-Pope], Anfernee [Simons]. It’s a fun time.”
After being exiled from Boston and being devalued on the trade market, Jaylen Brown has a lot to prove, and he will be playing with a chip on his shoulder next season. That’s why he’s putting in the work now to get a head start and ensure that his initiation into Philly goes off without a hitch. By slimming down and shedding extra weight, Brown can lean into a more mobile playstyle, allowing him to stay in constant motion beside elite playmakers on the floor.
Whether or not the 76ers can take down the likes of the Knicks, Pacers, or Cavaliers remains to be seen, but they have the pieces to beat any team in the league on paper. As an NBA champion himself, Brown knows what it takes to succeed, and he knows it’s about more than talent. To be the best requires serious work, and Jaylen has already started down the path of total transformation.
