Despite finishing runner-up to defending champion Mac McClung in the 2024 NBA Dunk Contest, Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown received plenty of criticism for the difficulty level of his dunks.
On Thursday, Brown posted practice footage of his no-look dunk attempt that was supposed to pay homage to former Celtics guard Dee Brown, who threw down a similar no-look slam in the 1991 NBA Dunk Contest.
In the practice video, Brown jumps over a person sitting in a chair, which was popular online streamer Kai Cenat during the contest. He then catches a lob, covers his eyes with his arm and throws down a one-handed dunk.
Jaylen Brown confirms via IG footage that his dunk over Kai Cenat was supposed to be a mid-air nod to Dee Brown’s no-look dunk. During the actual competition, JB wasn’t able to work that nod in until after he was back on the ground. pic.twitter.com/ypj9NPBsjs
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) February 22, 2024
That’s not quite how it went down at the dunk contest.
During the annual NBA event, Brown had Celtics teammate Jayson Tatum lob a pass above Cenat’s head, but they didn't connect on the first attempt.
On the second attempt, Brown caught the ball in mid-air but didn’t close his eyes until after he threw down the dunk.
The practice footage definitely clears up what Brown was attempting to pull off Saturday night in Indianapolis.
Will Brown consider participating in the dunk contest again?
“If they ask me and nobody else cares to do it, f--- it, I’ll do it again,” Brown said Thursday, via The Athletic’s Jared Weiss.
Maybe there’s a chance for redemption.
