Sunday, Jaylen Brown found out he earned an All-NBA Second Team selection. It's the punctuation on a campaign where he played his way into the MVP conversation. The Boston Celtics' star wing performed at a level worthy of a spot on the First Team. However, reacting to the news live on Twitch, he genuinely sounded appreciative. It was clear that this was not a source of stress or frustration for him.
"I'm not surprised. I'm aware of certain things," said Brown. "Who I am, how I use my platform. I'm not the most liked player in the media. At times, I'm not the most liked by the fans. So, I'm not surprised. Some of the things I say and do is a little controversial. So, I'm surprised that I win any awards at all, at times. I'm not on the First Team, but hey, shoutout to those who made the First Team," he continued. "I'm surprised I'm on any team…I'm grateful."
The 10-year veteran consistently returns as a better player at the start of a new campaign than when the previous one ended. On his Twitch stream, along with reacting to his latest accolade, the 29-year-old also shared part of his offseason agenda to elevate his game again.
Jaylen Brown is working to become more efficient
To achieve that, he has a specific list of NBA Hall of Famers and a former MVP he wants to work with. One of those individuals, Kevin Garnett, has his number retired in the TD Garden rafters.
In a career that spanned 21 years, the 15-time All-Star shot nearly 50 percent from the field. He was excellent when operating from the low blocks, a bit further out on the baseline, and at the elbows.
Brown has an effective, often high-arching, fadeaway he likes to uncork from the low post. He produced 1.02 points per possession on post-ups this season and shot 53.5 percent on those attempts, per NBA.com. However, it was a spot on the floor that he seldom worked from.
That could change if he works with Garnett to become more dynamic down there. Yes, he was known for launching turnaround fadeaway jumpers, but he had a deep bag of tricks that included a series of shoulder fakes. Learning from one of the best and most skilled power forwards of all time could help the Celtics' star wing become a more dangerous three-level scorer. It could also give his team another source of offense when 3s aren't falling or to serve as a complement to it on nights Boston's finding more success from beyond the arc.
Brown also wants to get into the lab with Hakeem Olajuwon. The legendary Houston Rockets' center is one of the greatest low-post players of all time, largely thanks to exceptional footwork.
While Garnett knew how to get himself in rhythm and create any separation needed, Olajuwon is a master at shaking free around the cup. He could also help the 2024 Finals MVP add a reliable jump hook to his repertoire.
The Marietta, Georgia, native is also hoping to work with Steve Nash this offseason. The Hall of Fame point guard saw the floor as well as anyone. He was also an exceptional shooter. And he was great at keeping his dribble alive to create quality chances for himself or a teammate. His ability to do so after circling the basket is how the term "Nashing" came into existence.
Brown's coming off a campaign where he dished out 5.1 assists. It was a career high that stemmed from getting his long-desired opportunity to shoulder more responsibility. His ability to consistently get downhill, and the coverage defenses threw at him to combat that, fueled his growth in quickly making the right read.
Training with Nash could help him with scanning the floor. Perhaps it also helps the five-time All-Star improve from beyond the arc. He's a career 35.8 percent three-point shooter on 5.3 attempts. Last season, he converted on 34.7 percent of the 5.7 triples he hoisted. If the goal is to get more efficient, doing so from behind the three-point line would go a long way toward achieving that.
Brown also wants to work with James Harden. The three-time scoring champion has spent much of his career as his own offensive system, something he'd be the first to tell you. If the 11-time All-Star is open to it, he could provide insight from one of the most lethal one-on-one players in the history of the sport. It would be a chance to tap into Harden's ability to manipulate his way to the free-throw line as well as anyone. He's also a two-time assist champion. It's another individual who could help Brown grow his one-on-one game and his ability to weaponize that to create quality shots for his teammates.
The now two-time All-NBA selection's workout wish list features a group that combined to capture the Association's MVP award six times and won Finals MVP five times. It's a carefully thought-out list that could drive Brown's next evolution, as he aims to build off a career year that offered the chance to learn from new experiences.
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