Boston Celtics: How Jaylen Brown lived up to team motto against Bucks
Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown honored the 2022-23 team motto during the team’s 139-118 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Christmas day.
The motto? ” We taking no mess this year.” The act of honor? Not backing down from the hulking Giannis Antetokounmpo after the ‘Greek Freak’ took a tumble and elbowed Brown after the latter set a screen on the former:
Giannis Antetokounmpo delivered an elbow to Jaylen Brown’s side after the play was dead, which led to Jaylen getting into Gianni’s’ face and this plenty of other got in between… pic.twitter.com/l2snRKQRAl
— Celtics on CLNS (@CelticsCLNS) December 26, 2022
Jaylen Brown talks Giannis Antetokounmpo incident after Boston Celtics win
When questioned by the media about the Giannis Antetokounmpo incident, Jaylen Brown essentially said he didn’t know there was an issue until he was hit by the 2x NBA regular season MVP (h/t NBC Sports Boston):
"“I’m not really sure what happened. I thought I was playing pretty physical defense, nothing dirty. Seemed like it was a clean play. Maybe he was a little bit frustrated. He got up and threw an elbow at me for whatever reason. And there was a lot chirping and talking in between.”"
Brown explained that it wasn’t him being a tough guy — he just wasn’t going to back down to even the most physically imposing athlete in the Association:
"“It’s a difference between trying to be a strong guy and letting your opponent know that I’m not backing down. I’m not afraid of any challenge or any matchup whatsoever. So, in that moment I was just letting him know that.”"
Brown has proven time and time again that he is a leader on and off the floor, and Sunday’s display was yet another showing from someone who leads by example.
The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks have two more matchups this season. Consider it must-see television with Brown and Antetokounmpo’s on-court rivalry being intensified.