Jaylen Brown delivered another outstanding performance to lead the Boston Celtics past the Los Angeles Lakers, 111-89, on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena.
Brown finished with a game-high 32 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and four steals as the Celtics improved to 37–19. The Lakers fell to 34–22.
LeBron James has praised Brown's performance this season, taking over for Boston amid Jayson Tatum's continued absence due to an Achilles injury.
"He's using the motivation of a lot of people who are saying they're going to have a bad year because obviously, with JT being out, they're losing Jrue (Holliday), Al (Horford) gone, (Kristaps) Porzingis gone, their entire championship team is pretty much new. He's using that as motivation to keep them afloat. They're playing great basketball because of him and all the other guys. He's taking the next step," James said in a video posted. C.L.N.S.
James said he and Brown did it stay civilizedEven if the latter criticized the former's son Bronny James last year.
"We've had a very respectful relationship, other than what he said about Bronny in Summer League. But other than that, we're OK," the four-time MVP said with a smile.
"It's all good. Bronny still has a long way to go, but that's a different story."
LeBron James on his relationship with Jaylen Brown:
"Our relationship has been very respectful. Other than that crap he said about Bronny in Summer League. But other than that, we're okay."
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(via @celticsclns)
- ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) 23 February 2026
While watching Summer League at courtside, Brown was caught on video saying, "I don't think Bronny James is a professional." It quickly went viral and, of course, James took notice.
The young James has been widely criticized, with many fans sharing Brown's views. However, he has shown improvement in his second season.
Meanwhile, the elder James said Brown is playing "great basketball," adding that the Celtics star is not being talked about enough for the MVP award.
