BROWN VOWS TO KEEP IMPROVING HIS GAME
Jaylen Brown did a remarkable job knocking down the rookie wall, and there is strong evidence he’s kept his hard hat on so far in the offseason. He has followed through on his pledge to work harder and, because of his experience, smarter in these months as he looks toward, first, summer league, then his second season.
Brown didn’t get the same kind of opportunities he would have on a lesser team, but by all accounts his rookie year was a success, particularly as displayed in the conference finals when his role increased.
“And I still think there’s so much more to show,” he told the Herald.
Like any good “show,” the rehearsals are critical, and Brown thinks increased knowledge of the subject will greatly help his process.
“Before last summer, I didn’t really know what I was preparing for,” he said. “Listening to people’s advice and seeing it for yourself is completely different. So I didn’t know what I was preparing for. I just knew I needed to be in shape. I knew I needed to shoot the ball well. I know I needed to be a very good defensive player. That’s where my focus was, and I think that carried me pretty well.
“But next year I think I’ll have a bigger role. I’ll know where I need to score in the offense. I’ll know exactly what they mean by everything. So my preparation this summer will be much different from what it was last summer, and there will be no wasted motion.”
Brown’s confidence was built at least in part on the additional minutes he got when Avery Bradley was out with an Achilles’ tendon injury in January and February.
“When Avery missed those games, it was an opportunity for me to fill in,” he said. “Before All-Star break and coming back from All-Star break, I kind of got things rolling. Not only was I proving it to myself, I was proving to everybody else that I can play at a high level in the NBA, and it kind of got my confidence going. I was getting the job done and helping us win and things like that.
“There’s still stuff I have to improve on and still stuff I will improve on, but time and experience have helped me come along a lot faster.”