The Boston Celtics have a lot of things going for them – Brad Stevens is one of the best young coaches in the league, Jayson Tatum has entered All-Star status, All-Star and newcomer Kemba Walker has fit right in, and oft-hurt Gordon Hayward is healthier than he’s ever been since that gruesome injury in 2017.

While each of those aspects are great and intriguing, though, it seems that the other rising wing, Jaylen Brown, is slipping under the radar… when he definitely shouldn’t.

Brown has taken a backseat behind the Celtics’ two bigger names (Tatum and Walker) despite a strong campaign. Don’t get me wrong: it’s quite understandable why and it’s actually best to be in that spot for now as it will allow him to dodge pressure and just focus on getting better.

We should probably be on the lookout. The kid could be primed to further showcase his developing game.

Rising with Jayson Tatum

The Celtics’ exciting 2018 playoff run was mostly highlighted by a rookie Tatum, who was able to showcase his potential throughout the stretch. However, many forgot that Brown was right there with his co-youngster, blasting the opposition and imposing the heralded potential he also possessed.

Tatum racked up 18.5 points per game in that postseason and rightfully earned all the buzz, but Brown was actually just as productive at 18 PPG, and even had two 30-plus point games while Tatum had none, all that while playing with fewer minutes.

In the Celtics’ chaotic 2018-19 season, which was allegedly marred by locker room drama that derailed the young guys’ development, Tatum (15.7 PPG) and Brown (13.9 PPG) were still fairly close in scoring despite Jaylen having a bench role.

Brown even led all Boston starters in shooting (50.2%) in the 2019 playoffs. In fact, he was arguably the most efficient Celtic during the disastrous second-round series with the Milwaukee Bucks, where they got booted out in five games. With everyone basically struggling against the stingy Bucks defense, Jaylen chipped in 16.2 points on a respectable 46.6% shooting – Tatum, on the other hand, only scored 12 per game and shot just 36.4%.

Now, on to the current season – Kyrie Irving is gone, and in comes a less-demanding Kemba Walker, so it looked good for everyone. Tatum has responded well to the challenge of raising his play, and yet again, Brown is tagging along nicely, even while Walker is also eating up scoring opportunities.

Brown is third in the team in scoring at 20.4 PPG, making Boston the only team with three players averaging over 20-plus (Tatum, Walker, and Brown). He’s also the most efficient shooter among the high-scoring trio (49 FG%, 58.9 TS%), and arguably the best defender as well.

Too unselfish?

So what’s keeping Jaylen from being an All-Star and reaching the recognition that Tatum and Walker have? Some would say it’s probably because he’s always willing to be more of a scoring support for the other two, and that he’s perhaps too unselfish.

Take for example his highest-scoring games of the season. In 11 of the 12 times Brown scored 25-plus points, he was greatly picking up the slack as it featured Tatum or Walker (sometimes both) having an off-night. To put it in a wider perspective, the Celtics are actually 14-0 on the season when he scores 24 or more – such a trend, or anything even close to that, isn’t present on either of the two All-Stars.

Gregg Popovich’s blessing

In the 2019 FIBA World Cup, Team USA head coach Gregg Popovich raved about Brown’s willingness to be a facilitator, saying that the 23-year-old was “unselfish, and will find other people.”

Following one of the team’s big wins in the tournament, the future Hall-of-Fame coach also heaped praise on Brown’s strength and versatility.

“[Jaylen Brown is] a strong player. For his size and strength, he moves well … “He can really penetrate. He can catch and pull, or get to the rim … He works on defense. He’s just kind of an all-around player. “He’s stepped in and given us good minutes on both ends of the floor for sure.”

If Pop thinks you’re a team player, and you have great strength and versatility, you most probably have such attributes. He’s been around a variety of all-time players, so he knows it when he sees one.

How will Brown do in the restart?

Since the Celtics are a well-oiled machine with an offense that allows many guys to have some shine, there’s a good possibility that Brown will remain as the third scorer. Then again, with all the aforementioned points, it’s still exciting to anticipate what he’ll bring.

Also, we have to remember that Kemba is coming off a knee injury. Although he’s expected to be healthy enough once the season resumes, you have to imagine Brown being more than ready to step up and overtake the role should there be health issues.

Ultimately, Brown simply has the classic makeup of a very talented, yet under-the-radar rising young gun. We better watch out.