While he won’t officially make his Boston Celtics debut until next month, Malcolm Brogdon is already becoming a leader for his new team. According to the Boston Globe’s Adam Himmelsbach, Brogdon reached out to Jaylen Brown this summer when Brown was named in trade rumors for Kevin Durant.
"“Like any human being, sometimes you want to be checked on to see how you’re doing, but that’s all I did with him. Jaylen’s a confident guy and he understands this is part of the business as well. So he’s a pro. He’s going to come back ready for training camp and ready to work.”"
Brogdon and Brown have been friends for several years, so it’s no surprise that Brogdon reached out to his new teammate. Nevertheless, Brogdon’s selfless mentality is a promising sign of things to come.
Leadership off the court
“The President” earned his nickname through his leadership, intelligence, demeanor, and speaking voice. With a master’s degree in public policy, the 29-year-old Brogdon is a fighter for social change and the founder of a nonprofit organization that builds clean water wells in Africa. He also sounds a lot like former U.S. President Barack Obama.
Chuck gave Malcolm Brogdon $45,000 to build a well for his charity that helps bring clean water to Africa 👏
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) May 18, 2019
(via @NBAonTNT) pic.twitter.com/bIqZWevc5o
Additionally, Brogdon, Brown, and Grant Williams are all current Vice Presidents of the NBPA. Himmelsbach reported that Brogdon and Williams recently teamed up at a Basketball Without Borders camp for teenagers in Cairo, Egypt. Previously, Brogdon and Brown led a march together in Atlanta to protest police brutality.
In advocating for players’ rights and working to make the world a better place, this special trio will form an incredibly strong bond.
Perfect fit on the court for the Boston Celtics
As an intelligent playmaker, reliable scorer, and tenacious defender, Brogdon is the perfect addition to the Boston Celtics bench. The 2017 NBA Rookie of the Year led the Pacers in scoring last season (19.1 PPG) and would currently be a starter for almost any team.
But in a new role for the defending Eastern Conference champs, Brogdon will significantly elevate Boston’s bench while also potentially competing for Sixth Man of the Year. Brogdon’s versatility allows him to fit into any lineup, which is especially important for the Cs after fellow newcomer Danilo Gallinari suffered a torn ACL playing for Italy in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers last week.
Ime Udoka will likely play Brogdon at multiple positions, including the forward spots whenever Brogdon shares the floor with smaller guards like Derrick White and Payton Pritchard.
This is what Brogdon told reporters in July:
"“I want to come in here and I want to add — my skill set, my playmaking, my ability to play off the ball when guys like Brown and Tatum have the ball,” Brogdon said. “And my ability to be able to read the game, to be able to close games, make good decisions and defend, really, 1 through 4 can be an asset to this team.”"
Brogdon will be asked to step outside his comfort zone, but he is up to the challenge. Keep in mind that he is six-foot-five – only one inch shorter than Williams, who is the unofficial Boston Celtics small-ball center.
Bigger and stronger than most guards, Brogdon effectively utilizes his size when driving inside. He is skilled at penetrating the lane, collapsing opposing defenses, and finding open teammates.
Regardless of how Udoka uses him, look for Brogdon to immediately make an impact as a veteran leader, two-way playmaker, and fan favorite in Boston.