Joe Mazzulla reacts to Jaylen Brown’s All-NBA snub originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston
BOSTON – Individual awards are the least of Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics’ worries with a trip to the NBA Finals on the line.
Even so, being Brown left out 2023-24 All-NBA teams It’s hard to ignore. The three-time All-Star is coming off the best season of his eight-year career. In addition to his 23.0 points per game and his career-high 49.9 field goal percentage, he has stepped up his game defensively and even flirted with his first all-defensive wave.
As frustrating as it is to be overlooked, Brown isn’t thinking about his snub amid his team’s Eastern Conference finals series against the Indiana Pacers. C’s coach Joe Mazzulla briefly addressed Brown’s mindset before Game 2 on Thursday night.
“He’s a very mature guy, so I don’t need to (talk to him about it),” Mazzulla said. “But he has a great outlook on life. He knows what is important and what is now. He works hard and knows who he is as a person and as a player. That’s the most important.”
Brown is the reason the Celtics have a 1-0 series lead heading into Thursday’s matchup. The 27 year old drilled the tying 3-point game force overtime on Boston wins 133-128 in Game 1. He finished with 26 points (10-20 FG), seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block in what was a stellar performance on both ends of the court.
Maybe Brown will use his All-NBA and All-Defense snubs as motivation in Game 2 and beyond. Regardless, he will continue to play a key role in the Celtics’ continued pursuit of the Banner 18.
Game 2 against Indiana is set for an 8pm ET tip-off at TD Garden.
