Ranking the top 5 players of the Brad Stevens Celtics era
By Ray Petree
2. Jaylen Brown
When Danny Ainge traded Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the Brooklyn Nets for a collection of future draft picks and a long list of inconsequential roleplayers, the deal was universally panned. In actuality, it was the heist of the century. With the Brooklyn Nets’ 2016 first-rounder, the Celtics selected Jaylen Brown with the third overall pick from California.
Entering the 2024-25 season, Jaylen Brown is still only 27 years old. Conventionally speaking, basketball players begin entering their prime at 27. However, his age belies his experience.
In eight seasons, Jaylen Brown has already played in six Eastern Conference Finals. In 2021-22, Brown helped the Celtics reach their first NBA Finals in over a decade, losing to the Golden State Warriors. Last season, he helped the Celtics capture Banner 18, earning both the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and Finals MVP honors.
Brown has emerged as one of the league’s premier wings. He's a savvy three-level scorer and a terrific point-of-attack defender. Brown’s defense on Luka Doncic, in particular, was paramount in the Celtics championship effort.
Joe Mazzulla has spoken at length about the team’s unique mindset entering the 2024-25 season — making a clear distinction between defending their and chasing another. With the proverbial weight finally off his shoulders, it’ll be interesting to see how Jaylen Brown performs in the Celtics quest to win their second consecutive championship.