BOSTON — Moments after the Celtics have been topped NBA champions in June, Jaylen Brown embraced Luka Doncic.
“I really like you, bro,” Brown informed the then-Mavericks star. “You’re a killer. You deliver the perfect out in me.”
Brown didn’t realize it but, however he was just some minutes away from being named Finals MVP, an honor he obtained largely on account of his defensive efforts in opposition to the Slovenian guard.
And, Doncic actually didn’t know that the subsequent time he’d be battling in opposition to Brown and the Celtics, he’d be doing in order a Laker.
Just some weeks after one of the vital beautiful trades in NBA historical past, Brown and Doncic confronted off once more. And whereas the supporting solid round Doncic modified — rather than Kyrie Irving and PJ Washington have been LeBron James and Austin Reaves — it largely felt like issues picked up precisely the place they left off in June.
Brown stole the ball from Doncic and located a streaking Al Horford for a working dunk within the first quarter. He guarded the Lakers guard full-court for many of the night time, and exhausted him offensively for many of the night time.
Doncic’s statline was nonetheless strong — largely because of a fourth-quarter outburst, he recorded 34 factors on 11-22 taking pictures — however he additionally turned the ball over 5 instances and completed with a game-worst plus-minus of -19.
Brown, in the meantime, completed with 31 factors (13-25 FG), 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and a couple of assists.
Brown will let you know going up in opposition to Doncic isn’t private: it’s merely a part of his accountability as one of many crew’s leaders to protect the opposing crew’s finest participant.
“That’s simply what my crew wants me to do,” Brown stated. “Clearly, we bought lots of proficient guys on each ends, however I feel my crew seems for me to have the ability to set the tone defensively and tackle these large matchups, night time in and night time out.”
Nonetheless, although it’s turn into considerably routine, the Closing MVP’s teammates and coaches marveled at his potential to protect one of many world’s finest gamers full-court with little to no assist — after which nonetheless rating a team-high 9 factors within the fourth quarter.
“The toll that it takes — the psychological, and emotional, and bodily toughness that it takes to do what Jaylen is ready to do and did tonight, is simply high-level,” Joe Mazzulla stated.
How does he do it?
“You bought to be in unbelievable form,” Brown acknowledged merely.
However Jrue Vacation, who has made a profession of guarding opposing gamers’ high gamers, stated it extends past that.
“It’s will. It’s willpower. It’s not simply power and conditioning — simply having the willpower,” Vacation stated. “You’ll be able to see that JB has it. Particularly on platforms and video games like this, JB locks in and that’s part of what makes us so good.”
Requested Jrue Vacation in regards to the toll it takes to protect elite gamers like Luka Doncic and nonetheless have to hold an offensive load:
“It’s will. It’s willpower. It is not simply power and conditioning — simply having the willpower. You’ll be able to see that JB has it.” pic.twitter.com/Y5Y645uMaV
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) March 9, 2025
Additional reinforcing the power willpower, on high of his elite two-way play, Brown is observing Ramadan, that means that he’s fasting from daybreak to sundown via March twenty ninth. Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, is noticed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection, and neighborhood.
“I’m simply having fun with the journey — simply specializing in my physique and my well being, my thoughts, my spirit,” he stated. “I’m simply preparing for the playoffs — fasting, rising my conviction and my religion.”
The fact is that Brown isn’t going to exhibit that defensive willpower, that willpower, 82 video games a yr. He plainly acknowledged that it’s arduous to mentally and bodily put together for a matchup “on a Tuesday in a random metropolis.”
Nevertheless, the Celtics are going through a slew of contenders this week, the playoffs are just some weeks away, and Brown opted to kick into one other gear in a primetime rivalry recreation in opposition to the Lakers.
“We don’t make excuses as athletes, but it surely takes rather a lot to enter that and carry out at a excessive stage,” he stated. “If you get in direction of the playoffs… you get extra detailed. You bought extra time to simply concentrate on the main points of no matter that matchup is, or no matter that crew is, and issues sort of get extra intense. All through the season, lots of instances groups are simply going via the motions. However when the playoffs come round, it’s a distinction.”
Celtics teammates marveled at Brown’s defensive power
It was removed from simply the Jaylen Brown present on Saturday night time. Jayson Tatum was the sport’s main scorer — he tallied 40 factors, 12 rebounds, 8 assists, and a couple of steals.
Al Horford performed considered one of his finest defensive video games of the season, routinely getting stops on Doncic and LeBron James can even posting 14 factors, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and three steals.
Vacation, in the meantime, returned from a 10-day absence on account of a proper mallet finger harm, and made a defensive impression that Tatum and others famous merely makes the Celtics a greater crew.
However, all three Celtics went out of the way in which to commend Brown’s defensive management — and clarify the way it impacts the remainder of the crew.
“Tonight, JB took possession on that, sort of setting the tone — and simply set the tone for the remainder of the sport,” Tatum stated.
“I feel Jaylen sort of loves it,” Horford stated. “He feeds off of that, and we feed off his power and what he does.”
Vacation, broadly among the best perimeter defenders within the NBA, gave maybe probably the most resounding praise of the night time.
“I don’t assume folks perceive how arduous that’s,” Vacation stated. “I’ve tried it for a couple of years and I don’t do it in addition to he does. So, him taking that position on and taking up that lead and being that powerful — I imply, it appeared like he annoyed Luka for lots of the sport. That’s arduous to do. After which on the opposite finish, going proper again at him.”
For Brown, a part of the aggressive spirit comes from a profound respect for Doncic’s offensive recreation — a recreation that he’s studied and noticed through the years.
Jaylen Brown expressed the respect he has for Luka — and the way he’s frolicked finding out his recreation:
“Luka is without doubt one of the greats. He’s a type of generational abilities.”
“He’s considered one of my favourite gamers on that facet of the ball. So, I spend lots of time watching his recreation.” pic.twitter.com/t9o5cypHDZ
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) March 9, 2025
“Luka is without doubt one of the greats,” he stated postgame. “He’s a type of generational abilities. I’ve enjoyable watching Luka play. Offensively, what he’s able to doing scoring the ball… offensively his expertise his subsequent to none. He’s considered one of my favourite gamers on that facet of the ball. So, I spend lots of time watching his recreation.”
With the 111-101 win, the Celtics snapped the Lakers’ 8-game win streak and improved to 46-18 on the yr, rising their lead over the Knicks for the No. 2 seed to five.5 video games. The victory over the Lakers solely counts as one win — and it’ll possible haven’t any impression on the Celtics’ playoff seeding.
It nonetheless served a reminder of what it seems like when Brown and the Celtics attain one other gear.
“Immediately was not a type of common season, regular video games the place it’s no matter,” Brown stated. “Tonight was day for basketball.”
