‘You symbolize the long run’: 4 takeaways from Jaylen Brown’s community-driven press convention at MIT

With Celtics brass to his proper, Olympian John Carlos to his left and a sea of scholars sporting vibrant pink “Bridge” t-shirts behind him, Jaylen Brown related all events as he signed the biggest contract in NBA historical past.

Brown bridged the hole between the previous, current and future Tuesday on the Massachusetts Institute of Know-how. As a lot as this occasion was about celebrating Brown the basketball participant, it was much more about celebrating Brown the particular person and all he plans to do now that he’s inked his five-year, $304 million extension.

“You guys being right here is particular for me,” Brown advised his campers. “You symbolize the subsequent technology. You symbolize the long run. Every part I do is to attempt to make this world a greater place.”

Picture by Brian Babineau/NBAE by way of Getty Pictures

He’s placing his cash to make use of.

Brown plans to launch a undertaking to deliver Black Wall Road to Boston and assault the wealth disparity. He plans to stimulate the economic system, make investments locally and assist town turn into absolutely built-in.

“We’ve received loads of work to do, and I feel we’re all on that very same journey,” Brown mentioned.

He mentioned he was along with his college students in the course of a robotics session on Sunday when the deal lastly materialized. Brown put his cellphone down and received proper into class that day.

As for the situation of the press convention, Brown mentioned it “simply occurred to fall like that.” He mentioned everybody would have preferred to get the deal accomplished sooner, however this immersive expertise made sense logistically, and he thought it was becoming.

Based by Brown, the 7uice Basis companions with establishments, organizations and social change leaders to bridge the chance hole for youth in historically underserved Black and Brown communities. This summer time, Bridge has organized a multi-day camp on the MIT Media Lab to deal with STEAM-related alternatives and different areas.

Brown mentioned cash isn’t all the things, however it does create an avenue to construct one thing monumental.

“It offers my life and my which means a lot extra objective,” Brown mentioned. “… The world is altering. I’m proud to be part of that change.”

The Celtics are thrilled with each the particular person and the participant.

Brown mentioned the talks with the Celtics “went nice,” including that the pre-existing relationships allowed them to have regular and direct conversations.

“From my standpoint, they understood the place I got here from, understood the place we got here from,” Brown mentioned. “It was all about simply assembly within the place the place it made sense for everyone. I’m glad we have been capable of end it.”

Brad Stevens, Joe Mazzulla, Wyc Grousbeck and Stephen Pagliuca dished loads of reward Brown’s means, crediting each the particular person and the participant for his want to be nice.

“From the second Jaylen received right here, it’s been about progress,” Stevens mentioned. “It’s about getting higher. It’s about tackling each problem. It’s about if issues go very well for you that day, working onerous the subsequent day so that you generally is a little higher.”

Mazzulla mentioned he’s the kind of one who’s made him higher and made individuals round him higher. Pagliuca added that the purpose is to collectively make Boston and the world a greater place with Brown as a driving power.

Grousbeck mentioned they spent probably the most time Sunday speaking about Invoice Russell and tips on how to proceed to honor him shifting ahead.

“Ever since I met Jaylen seven years in the past, I’ve been fully blown away and impressed by his depth, his dedication, and his ardour,” Grousbeck mentioned. “It’s not about him, it’s about different individuals.”

Picture by Adam Glanzman/Getty Pictures

They did talk about some basketball.

Brown emphasised the significance of persistently bringing defensive depth this season and past. He mentioned it begins with him and Jayson Tatum, and he additionally talked about Kristaps Porzingis as a catalyst in that space.

“With Marcus gone, we don’t need our defensive identification to exit the door as effectively,” Brown mentioned.

As anticipated, Brown mentioned “in fact” when requested if this Celtics staff has what it takes to win all of it.

He mentioned he’ll miss Good, noting that they “butted heads” and “put one another in headlocks” at instances, however that it was all love. Brown referred to as him “a brother” and mentioned Good will nonetheless be with them spiritually as they proceed their journey.

“This journey gained’t really feel the identical with out him, to be sincere, however it’s part of life,” Brown mentioned.

In the meantime, he claims to haven’t acquired any type of FaceTime from Grant Williams or Robert Williams – opposite to what they mentioned on social media – however he made it clear he plans to offer them a name later within the day Tuesday.

“By no means, by no means, by no means,” Brown mentioned, when requested if he was too cool to speak with them now. “These are my guys.”

Brown mentioned his cellphone blew up greater than ever earlier than earlier this week, however he’s excited to shift the main focus elsewhere and get again to enterprise.

He embraces the added strain.

Brown believes all the things he’s skilled at every stage of his profession has ready him to enter this new section of his life, with much more weight on his shoulders.

On the identical time, he is aware of he’s not on the journey alone, and he plans to proceed to lean on these round him.

“That pursuit of excellence by no means adjustments,” Stevens mentioned. “I feel that’s an incredible separator once you’re speaking a few participant, speaking a few teammate, and speaking about an individual you wish to be related to.”

Brown mentioned he doesn’t really feel as if anybody has seen his greatest but. He is aware of what the demand is, and he’s keen to achieve that pinnacle individually and as a staff.

“I don’t draw back from strain,” Brown mentioned.