{"id":97430,"date":"2024-09-25T00:23:30","date_gmt":"2024-09-25T04:23:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=97430"},"modified":"2024-09-25T00:23:30","modified_gmt":"2024-09-25T04:23:30","slug":"celtics-mvp-winner-jaylen-brown-what-grateful-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/09\/25\/celtics-mvp-winner-jaylen-brown-what-grateful-for\/","title":{"rendered":"Celtics\u2019 2-Time MVP Winner Reveals What He\u2019s \u2018Grateful\u2019 For"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Boston Celtics have plenty of what the kids like to call aura<\/em>. Their mystique is driven by the franchise lore, which includes a league-leading 18 NBA championships. Yet, the players that don the leprechaun green jerseys are the real pot of gold.<\/p>\n

Bill Russell<\/a>, an 11-time NBA champion and five-time MVP selection. Larry Bird<\/a>, a three-time NBA champion and three-time MVP selection. The Big 4 of Paul Pierce<\/a>, Kevin Garnett<\/a>, Ray Allen<\/a> and Rajon Rondo<\/a>, who delivered them a championship in 2008.<\/p>\n

Nowadays, 19-year-old (just kidding, 26-year-old<\/em>) Jayson Tatum<\/a> is the face of the franchise. A star whose popularity has grown with his playmaking, he\u2019s coming off of a career regular season. In 74 games, he averaged 26.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists per contest on .471-.376-.833 splits.<\/p>\n

However, in the 2024 NBA Playoffs, it was Jaylen Brown<\/a> who emerged as \u2018the guy.\u2019 He won both the Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP awards as the Celtics won their first championship since 2008. The fact that he did so while being one of the most disrespected stars in the league made the moment that much more succulent.<\/p>\n

Celtics\u2019 Jaylen Brown Reveals What He\u2019s \u2018Grateful\u2019 For<\/h2>\n

On the first day of training camp, Brown spoke to reporters about the criticism he\u2019s faced over the years. In no unclear terms, the 27-year-old made it known that he\u2019s appreciated the pressure. \u201cI\u2019m grateful and I wouldn\u2019t change it for anything,\u201d he tells reporters (h\/t The Athletic\u2019s Jared Weiss).<\/p>\n

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Jaylen Brown said the moments when he got booed and people wanted to trade him helped make him who he is today.<\/p>\n

“I’m grateful and I wouldn’t change it for anything. I’m glad nothing was handed to me. I was the third pick and I had to earn everything in this organization. That’s\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2014 Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) September 24, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n