BOSTON — Two years ago, Boston Celtics All-Star Jaylen Brown wasn’t ready for the NBA Finals.
He shot 43.3 percent from the field and 31.8 percent from 3-point range over his final three games (all losses to the Celtics) and committed 10 turnovers in his final two games.
And over the past two seasons, he repeatedly rewatched the Celtics’ loss to the Golden State Warriors in the 2022 Finals.
“You can really learn something from anything,” Brown says, “but you can also look at those moments and learn from them how to manage your emotions and what you might have done differently.”
“I don’t think it’s a bad thing to see that, acknowledge that and be aware of that. So I think I watched at least a few finals in their entirety, right to the end.”
Brown will likely watch the 2024 Finals many times, but with a different perspective and a different feel for it. Brown came into this season’s Finals prepared as a player who could control the game offensively and defensively.
Brown was named Finals MVP for his performance in the Celtics’ 4-1 win over the Dallas Mavericks. Boston got the job done by beating Dallas in Game 5 on Monday. Brown had 31 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Brown received 8 of 11 votes, while teammate Jayson Tatum received three.
“My teammates were great,” Brown said. “They let me lead the team offensively and defensively, and then just going out there and performing on our home court was just awesome. That MVP award goes to anybody. It goes to Jason. I can’t say enough about how selfless Jason is. I can’t say enough about his attitude, the way he approached not just this series and the Finals, but the playoffs in general. We did it together as a team. That was the most important thing.”
Brown, who was named the Eastern Conference Finals MVP for the series, averaged 20.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 44 percent from the field.
“It’s awesome that he had that moment and I got to share that moment with him,” Tatum said. “I’m just happy for him. He deserves it. That’s awesome. He’s earned it.”
Brown recorded 30 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and one block in Game 3, making him and Tatum just the second pair of Celtics with 30 or more points each in a Finals game, joining John Havlicek (40 points) and Bailey Howell (30 points) in Game 6 against the Los Angeles Lakers in 1968. In Game 1, Brown became the first Celtics player with 20 or more points, three blocks and three steals in a Finals game.
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“This team has trusted me, especially in these playoffs and in the moments where I’m being myself,” Brown said. “I just stayed patient and calm and I feel like it paid off. The opportunities came and I was able to take advantage of them, but I want to thank my teammates for trusting me with the ball in my hands and making those plays.”
Brown has developed into one of the best two-way players in the league. He was named to the All-NBA Second Team last season and was named to his third All-Star game this season.
“I told myself I wanted to maximize my defensive potential and I was hoping to be named First Team All-Defensive going into the season,” Brown said. “That didn’t happen, but to show my defensive versatility in those moments, being able to lead guys, defend guys in the post, defend contested 3-point shots and flip the switch, that’s big for us.”
Said Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla: “He’s got a growth mindset. He just wants to get better. He’s hungry to get better. He’s not afraid to confront his weaknesses on the court.”
“When you have that mindset, you’re prepared to handle any situation that comes up in the game. He puts himself in every situation he sees in the game. He has six, seven, eight coaches on a given day and he puts himself in every situation on both ends of the court.”
“And part of growing up is being vulnerable and facing the things that make you uneasy, and he’s doing that.”
Brown used last season’s seven-game losing streak to Miami in the Eastern Conference finals as motivation to become a better player.
“Coming up short on our home court last year definitely hurt,” Brown said. “I felt like the team was counting on me. JT got hurt in Game 7 and I dropped the ball. It was embarrassing for me. It was something that really bothered me all summer.”
He added: “It’s really all about mental strength. Mentally it’s about willpower, focus, perseverance and the ability to overcome yourself. I think that’s what I’ve worked hardest on.”
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