Shortly after the 2023 NBA season concluded, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown caught a lot of criticism, specifically about his limitations dribbling with his left hand. Brown had several costly turnovers in the postseason, many while dribbling with his left hand. Though Brown was suffering from the lingering effects of a laceration in his hand, opposing players like Miami Heat guard Caleb Martin were openly suggesting Brown’s left-handed dribble was a liability.
Weeks later, this narrative has persisted. As the 2023-24 regular season approaches, it’s become somewhat accepted dogma that Brown has a glaring hole in his game. Take the Ringer’s Danny Chau, who recently identified an offseason wish for each team in the NBA. His pick for Boston underscores how tired the take has become, even if it holds a certain merit.
“I’d venture to guess,” Chau wrote, “there would be a not-insignificant number of people around the world who would watch a six-hour livestream of Jaylen Brown being forced to do everything—brushing his teeth, dribbling a basketball, making breakfast, dribbling a basketball, lacquering a raw-edge wood slab table, dribbling a basketball—with his left hand.”
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Brown posted the highest usage rate of his career last season while also setting a new personal best for shot attempts per game. And even though the Georgia native had the ball in his hands more than ever, he posted a lower turnover rate than in previous seasons.
During the 2023 playoffs, however, the story changed. Brown’s usage rate dipped slightly, while his turnover rate increased a bit. He notably coughed up 8 giveaways in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals, with 5 dribble turnovers using his left hand. As the Athletic’s Jared Weiss pointed out a few weeks ago, 25 of Brown’s 66 postseason turnovers came from his left-handed dribble.
Specifically, Weiss found that many of Brown’s left-handed were with defenders at his back, either on the break or in a post-up situation. This could be an area of improvement for Brown, and if the two-time All-Star was also struggling with his stitches opening up during games, perhaps long-term concerns about his left hand are overblown.
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— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 21, 2023
Brown’s avoidable turnovers in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals were costly to the Celtics. But Boston also shot a miserable 9-for-42 on 3-pointers in the game. The Celts also looked lost on defense, and not for nothing, Brown’s teammate Jayson Tatum hurt his ankle in the opening moments of the game.
Likewise, forcing Brown left might not always be the wisest move for opposing defense. Though he does favor his right slightly when attacking the rim, one of Brown’s most effective shots is a pull-up jumper just inside the left elbow.
Brown earned All-NBA Second Team honors last season, setting up a $304 million supermax contract extension over the summer. Brown’s struggles with his left hand are real and other teams will exploit this problem for as long as it persists. But that doesn’t mean it’s the biggest concern for the Celtics this season.
Tatum has climbed the mountain top to reach the peak of small forwards in the league. https://t.co/FAHxxseWeh
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) August 22, 2023
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