The City of Boston did not exactly roll out the red carpet for Jaylen Brown after fans of the Boston Celtics learned who their team had selected with the third overall pick of the 2016 NBA draft.
A reception as icy as they can come coupled with the city’s reputation of being hostile toward players of color left a younger Brown uncertain of what his future would hold, even as he opened his mind to the experience. Speaking in a recent cover interview for SLAM! with Deyscha Smith, the Georgia shared his initial impressions of the city he now calls home and how he has used his passion for activism to connect with the community.
“I scared was here when I first got here,” shared Brown. “When I first got here, my first introduction, they … booed me.”
New pre-deadline 2023 mock has Boston Celtics drafting two forwards and a guard https://t.co/bSMQDGx4c3
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) February 4, 2023
“The weather, the lack of familiarity, the reputation, everything that you could think that was going through my head at the time,” he added. Now, however, he is more certain about his footing in the city of Boston.
“My friends, they come in town, they talk about Boston. I mean, Boston is this and that and I find myself defending,” explained the Georgia native. “As I got integrated into the community, I met a lot of people who live in Boston who do a lot of great things.”
It’s no coincidence this team has the most retired jersey numbers with 17 banners hanging alongside them as of Oct. 2022. https://t.co/wZfOmC5O0g
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) February 4, 2023
Some of that integration happened in conjunction with Brown’s activism off of the court. “I just look at it as a responsibility,” he suggested.
“Athletes in general, (and) entertainers are so influential and I think the power in that is amazing, to be able to use that for positivity and to uplift a community or be a voice for the voiceless. Not just to show up to places and receive praise or to be put on a pedestal, but to use your voice.”
Using his voice hasn’t always come without resistance for the Cal alum, however. “At times you get a lot of pushback,” related Brown.
“There (are) certain people who will want to change the world and then there’s certain people … the world is currently going right now like it’s comfortable for them,” said the Celtics star.
“And I like to challenge people’s comfort.”
The Hall of Fame Celtic started out hating the sport he’d become famous for playing. https://t.co/DffKqF60DU
— The Celtics Wire (@TheCelticsWire) February 4, 2023
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