Jaylen Brown Reveals Private Communication With Joe Mazzulla as Celtics Star Confirms Crucial Behavior Change

Jaylen Brown has been hobbled recently. Dealing with a knee injury has forced him to miss games, something the Celtics star hates. But against the Suns, none of those issues seemed to exist. He punished Phoenix by scoring a team-high 31 points. But he only played 29 minutes. These would be the games players want to play as much time to get over the scare of their ailment. Not for Brown. And surely not under Joe Mazzulla.

The former Finals MVP wasn’t upset about his condensed participation. Rather, he was thankful to the head coach. Brown revealed Mazzulla has given him “grace” due to his injury. Moreover, at times Mazzulla allows Jaylen Brown to feel his game and plays him longer than prescribed. That’s why Brown isn’t upset about playing limited minutes when he was unstoppable against Phoenix today.

“He’s letting me feel through it he kind of understands where it’s at and he’s letting me you know play through some stuff… I appreciate Joe for the communication and stuff like that. It’s good to have that now rather than trying to figure it out once you know everything is on the line. So I think it’s important to kind of build that and I think that’s what we have that communication,” Brown noted.

Jaylen Brown missed time due to his knee injury. Now that it’s finally starting to come through, the 28-year-old looks more confident scoring the ball and playing with the force Joe Mazzulla expects him to. He has scored 55 points in the last two games, shooting with great efficiency too.

Jan 31, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) looks on against the New Orleans Pelicans during the first half at Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

As the head coach, Mazzulla seems to be assessing Brown’s condition during the game. Moreover, with him offering regular feedback to Brown, it allows the Celtics star to adjust to his role with greater precision. With the playoffs so close, the Celtics need Brown to not only be healthy but also deliver for the team.

And as he continues to play, Brown is starting to understand what the Celtics need from him.

Jaylen Brown has a new role with the Celtics

Jaylen Brown was undoubtedly the Celtics’ best scorer tonight. The forward with nuclear athleticism poured in shots and led the Celtics through his shot-making. However, this was only a situational happening. Normally, the Celtics don’t want Brown to lead by scoring. He revealed his renewed role during the press conference.

“My role you know has changed a lot over the years. I feel like this year you know making plays for others. I don’t think we needed me to score the ball this year. You know obviously scoring is something that I do and that’s like probably my best quality but you know I really tried to emphasize making plays for others on my team all season long,” Brown revealed.

It does feel like a sacrifice to Brown. After all, he is forced to hold back and achieve greater scoring output to be a connector for his teammates. He’s averaging a career-high 4.6 assists this season, but his scoring has waned. Still, Brown does it without being discouraged. It’s because for Brown, what matters is how he impacts winning and not his personal production.

So his role of keeping everybody engaged in a game, Jaylen Brown wears it like “a badge of honor”. Even in last year’s postseason, Jaylen Brown wasn’t leading by scoring the ball. But still, the major accolades followed him because he played such an integral role in the Celtics’ betterment. His hawk-like defense, selflessness, and attacking the glass are traits that help Mazzulla’s system run like a ship on smooth waters.

But having a player capable of taking the helm also aids in tackling unforeseen moments. Brown is willing to do whatever it takes for the Celtics. What matters at the end of it all is winning.

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