Jaylen Brown has expanded his game out of necessity this season, as it was his first season as the undisputed number one option for the Boston Celtics amid Jayson Tatum's lengthy absence due to an Achilles tendon rupture. Brown has responded with his best season as a professional, and even after Tatum's return, he remains the foundation and cornerstone of the Celtics, the guy they rely on to take them home on a nightly basis.
On Thursday night, Brown certainly did his part in putting the Celtics in position to win. He answered his team's call amid the absence of Tatum and Derrick White in a heated battle against the Oklahoma City Thunder, scoring 34 points, six rebounds and seven assists. While a late-game call that went against the Celtics ultimately cost them a 104-102 loss, it shouldn't take away from Brown's efforts.
In fact, Brown has become so dangerous as a playmaker that he has become the first Celtics player since Rajon Rondo in 2014 to record at least seven assists in seven consecutive games, as reported by Taylor Snow of Celtics Stats.
Considering how Rondo is one of the best playmakers in Celtics franchise history, being mentioned in the same sentence as a passer is no mean feat for Brown.
Jaylen Brown has become more than a scorer for the Celtics
Over the years, questions have been raised about Brown's dribbling and playmaking. The Celtics star has faced criticism for not being able to dribble safely with his left hand and passing has never been one of the biggest strengths of his game.
But being the team's top dog for most of the season, Brown has had to make the most of the defensive attention he gets on a nightly basis. And he is passing that exam with good marks.
