Brown’s decision had to be made
Jaylen Brown severed ties with Donda Sports a day after the Globe reported that he would remain with the Kanye West-created marketing company despite West’s racists and antisemitic comments over the past several weeks. West has reiterated those statements in recent days, and he was dropped by Creative Artists Agency and Adidas, likely costing him in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Brown released a statement Wednesday, regretting his initial decision to remain with Donda and condemning West’s statements.
Brown has a lot at stake and made the right decision. He is a shoe free agent, and, according to NBA sources, interested companies such as Nike and New Balance were beginning to back off negotiations because of Brown’s affiliation with West.
Brown is not clamoring for a new shoe deal. He has been a free agent for months since cutting ties with Adidas. Brown is wearing a variety of Kobe Bryant Nikes as a tribute to the late star but has yet to commit to a company.
Brown is very aware of his off-court marketing opportunities, as well as his crusade to provide better educational opportunities to underrepresented communities. The affiliation with West was already damaging those endeavors, but Brown also felt he needed time to reflect on his friendship with West and didn’t want to appear he was deserting the troubled rapper in his time of need.
The next goal for Brown should be to create his own marketing firm and also create more educational opportunities. Brown wants to concentrate on basketball, and the West issue was becoming a distraction.
But to expect a 26-year-old to make such significant decisions without careful thought and consideration is shortsighted and unfair. Brown was heavily criticized for not immediately ending his relationship with Donda, but he needed a few days to consider his next move. He needed to consult with Rams All-Pro defensive lineman Aaron Donald, another Donda client who also decided to leave the company.
Bravo for Banchero’s start
The raves for Magic rookie Paolo Banchero have been loud and well deserved. He already the Magic’s primary cornerstone, after just two weeks of his first season. Banchero, who played one year at Duke, is a physically imposing and versatile player who can play three positions.
Last Saturday, he faced off against Celtics forward Blake Griffin, another former No. 1 overall pick who was physically imposing and athletically gifted coming out of the draft in 2009. Griffin had a lot of good things to say about Banchero.
“People said this about me when I was coming in [the NBA], but once he truly learns the NBA’s in and outs, he’s going to be scary,” Griffin said. “He didn’t back down from anybody. He’ll have ups and downs, but he’s going to be fine. He’ll be good.
“He’s incredibly physically talented. His presence is on the game.”
Griffin said he sees similarities between himself and Banchero. He said he understands Banchero’s journey.
“My rookie year I was just trying to keep my head above water,” Griffin said. “I wanted to play as hard as I could and go against everybody. That’s what I like about him. He didn’t back down from anybody. He’ll have ups and downs, this is how rookie years go, no matter how good you are, how good of a rookie year you have. But he’s going to be good.”
Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, another former Blue Devil, formed a friendship with Banchero last season and hung out with him after Duke beat Boston College last season in Chestnut Hill.
“He’s somebody I’m pretty close with,” Tatum said. “This time at Duke last season we spoke pretty frequently, and he’s somebody I’m extremely happy for. From playing at Duke to being the No. 1 pick to how well he’s been playing these first [few] games, I couldn’t be happier for him and his family. I know how hard he works. I know how good of a person he is. That size, to be that height and to be that bulky and essentially do anything, obviously he’s going to continue to get better.
“I was happy I finally got a chance to compete against him, and we’re going to have many more battles in the future.”
Tatum said he’s humbled by incoming players who model their games after him. It wasn’t that long ago (2017) that Tatum was a skinny rookie vying to compete with the game’s stars.
“It means a lot. It’s funny I guess because I’m in my sixth year now and guys are coming in at 19 and have been watching me their whole high school career, first year in college,” Tatum said. “Just how the tables have turned. I remember being in that position and playing against guys I really admired and looked up to. But the best part about it is, the respect is always there, but I think the way you show it is you go out there and compete.”
Layups
There were high expectations in Detroit that the Pistons would contend for at least a play-in spot with their young and improving roster coming off a solid ending to last season. But after winning their season opener against Orlando, the Pistons lost five consecutive games and have a treacherous schedule ahead with games against Golden State, Milwaukee (2), and Boston (2) over the next two weeks. The Pistons are trying to avoid getting buried in the East, especially with teams such as the Hornets, Wizards, Bulls, Knicks, and Cavaliers off to strong starts. Whether coach Dwane Casey ends up on the hot seat depends on organizational expectations, but the Pistons expect to take a significant step this season behind
Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey ... Former Celtics first-round pick Romeo Langford was hoping for an opportunity for more playing time going to the rebuilding Spurs, but San Antonio is off to a 4-2 start with their young talent and Langford has not been able to break into the rotation. He played in three of the first six games, averaging 8.3 minutes and 2.7 points. Langford, who did not sign a rookie extension with the Spurs, will be a restricted free agent next summer . . . In Indiana, former Celtics first-round pick Aaron Nesmith has started four of the team’s six games, averaging 8.7 points. His issue continues to be lack of production from the 3-point line. He’s shooting 31.8 percent from the arc this season, but he should get plenty of opportunities for a rebuilding team.