Jaylen Brown on the state of the Celtics: 'Everybody’s happy when you win'

Celtics wing Jaylen Brown made an appearance on ESPN's The Jump on Friday afternoon ahead of the Celtics matchup against the Lakers.

Brown was asked by Hall-of-Fame forward Scottie Pippen about his current role on the Celtics this season and how he's dealt with the change of coming off the bench after a successful playoff run last spring as a starter.

"I just do the best I can with the cards I’ve been given," Brown said. "I just come out, try to play hard and add to winning as best as possible. Everybody’s happy when you win. As long as we win, I’m fine with everything. I don’t make the decisions, but I come out and try to play hard and add to winning and be a good teammate."

A very mature response from the Celtics third-year player, who averaged 18 points 4.8 rebounds in 32 minutes during the postseason a year ago. Brown, now in reserve role due to the return of Gordon Hayward and Kyrie Irving, is averaging 12.8 points and 4.4 rebounds in 25.9 minutes per game. He has started in only 23 out of 61 games played this season.

Earlier this week prior to the Celtics win over the Warriors, Brown described the team's atmosphere as "toxic" and that it needed to be fixed. Boston was 1-5 following the All-Star break before winning back-to-back games in Golden State and Sacramento on their current four-game California road trip, which will conclude in Los Angeles against the Lakers and Clippers.

Ultimaltely, Brown wants to play as much as possible, while the Celtics look to climb the Eastern Conference standings before the start of the NBA playoffs, but he understands it is not easy for coach Brad Stevens to find the best possible rotation. Brown just continues to take on his revised role in stride for now.

"It’s a lot. I’m not going to lie to you — mentally, physically, everything, when you just happen to adjust to the league," Brown said. "But a part of this business that we’re in is being mature and handling it the right way — being professional and stuff like that — so I’ve taken it and I’ve learned, and it actually has made me a lot better as a basketball player and as a person than I expected."

Of course, Brown was asked if he has made a request to return to the starting lineup, in which the 22-year-old didn't take the bait.

"It doesn’t matter to me, as long as we keep winning," Brown said. "I’m going to just do the best I can to be the best version of myself and help this team win."

The Celtics are 40-26 and are 1.5 games behind the Philadelphia Sixers for the fourth best record in the East. They face LeBron James and old friend Rajon Rondo Saturday night in another nationally televised broadcast before taking on the Clippers Monday.


Watch the rest of what Jaylen Brown had to say below:

Joel Pavón
Follow @Joe1_CSP



Photo used courtesy of YouTube