Jaylen Brown says it is “his time” and has discussed the importance of Ramadan after scoring more than 30 in a game for the sixth time since the All-Star break in February to play a pivotal role in the Boston Celtics’ 129-102 win at the Detroit Pistons.
Brown scored 33 points for the NBA Eastern Conference leaders, who secured an eighth consecutive victory despite the absence of the rested Jayson Tatum and Al Horford and Jrue Holiday, who has an arm injury.
“Flexibility and variety are things coaches love to have and feel good about, and to have multiple line-ups and ways to win a game,” Brown told NBC Sports Boston.
“We want to give Joe [Mazzulla] as much confidence as he can have going into the play-offs. We want to be able to play and win in different ways.”
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The 27-year-old confirmed that he is observing the Muslim festival of Ramadan, which began on March 10 and ends on April 9. “It’s an amazing time of the year,” said Brown.
“A bunch of people all over the world participate and I’m just one of those people who kind of falls in line. It’s an amazing month to celebrate. It’s about your strength, your focus and receiving those clarities.
“It’s something I have enjoyed participating in but something I don’t necessarily want to make about myself. Everybody’s doing this together, so I’m appreciative of that.”
Joe Mazzulla on Jaylen Brown’s evolution:
“I love just the way he’s carried himself out there on the court…He’s taking the shots that he wants. He’s making plays for himself, for his teammates. It’s been an honor to coach him.”pic.twitter.com/YxSFYlKOH1
— Bobby Krivitsky (@BobbyKrivitsky) March 23, 2024
Ramadan 2024 ‘amazing’ – Jaylen Brown
Ramadan requires foregoing water or food from sunrise to sunset as part of a fast, but Brown said that was “not difficult at all” despite competing in a physically exacting sport.
“People have a lot more difficulties in different parts of the world where they don’t have the same blessing, opportunities or privileges,” he reflected. “It’s more faith, spirit and belief than it is about the physical nature of things.”
The 6ft 6in three-time All Star put his form partly down to “natural maturity”. “As you get older, you get more skilled and professional,” Brown explained.
“But it’s also about opportunity – we’ve had a lot of big-time players who have come through this organisation. I was just patient, kept getting better and now it’s my time.”
Celtics are next in action when they visit Chicago Bulls on Saturday.
