Jaylen Brown and the Celtics forced marriage

By Steve Atkinson

The Celtics season begins in October but the talk of the summer was Jaylen Brown. Now, we all know what Brown has said about the fans, the team, and the city. In my opinion, if another team other than the Celtics could’ve offered him the supermax he would’ve been gone no doubt about it.

The forced marriage of the Celtics between Jaylen Brown and the team can be compared to an actual couple being married and staying in it for the kids. It’s more convenient for Brown to stay on the Celtics and get the five-year $304 million extension than it is to play somewhere else for less. Just like it’s more convenient for a married couple to stay married than go with kids than leave cause of divorce, lawyers, fees, etc. In all Brown is on the Celtics for convenience and that’s a fact.

Here is what Brown said during the press conference this summer after he signed the contract.

“I appreciate the investment and commitment from the Celtics and the rest of the community,” Brown said. “That investment will be felt in return from me here in Boston, on and off the floor, and all around the world.” “I don’t shy away from pressure. I know that the demand is. I know what the expectation level is, and I know the work that is required. Everything about me is about work,” Brown said. “I look at as just another challenge to get better, another challenge to improve. I don’t think [anybody] has seen my best yet.”

Not only does Brown have a lot to live up to he could’ve started in the Eastern Conference Finals in Game 7 but came up short. It also took a while for the Celtics and Brown to sign the supermax contract almost like they both said well let’s just get it over with. During the press conference, Brad Stevens said this.

He’s a big part of us. We believe in him and I’m thankful for him,” Stevens said last month. “I’m really thankful that when those guys have success they come back to work. And when they get beat, they own it and they come back to work. And so I know that’s what they’re about. And that’s hard to find.”

There needs to come a time when Brown and Tatum win a championship together. Now with Marcus Smart out of the way, it should be easier. I still do think they are a better team without Marcus Smart running his mouth pretending he’s the head coach. With Brown not stepping up in the ECF proves he isn’t a number one on the team and that Tatum is.  I still think Brown wants to be a number one somewhere else but saw the money that only the Celtics could offer so he couldn’t refuse.

“Ever since I met Jaylen seven years ago, I’ve been completely blown away and impressed by his intensity, his commitment, his passion. And it’s not about him. It’s about other people,” Grousbeck said. “It’s about making his teammates the most successful. But even more, it’s about being in the community and lifting everybody up.”

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