Former Cal Star Jaylen Brown Adjusting to Wearing Protective Mask
Jaylen Brown will miss the Boston Celtics’ game Monday night against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden, but his absence apparently has nothing to do with the facial fracture he suffered early this month.
Brown, who has played well in both of the Celtics’ games since All-Star Game, is out Monday for “personal reasons,” according to the team.
The former one-and-done Cal standout seems to have adjusted nicely to the protective mask he is wearing until he heals. He suffered the injury on Feb. 8 when he took an accidental elbow to the face from teammate Jayson Tatum.
Brown actually made his return to the court at the All-Star Game at Salt Lake City a week ago Sunday, scoring 35 points for Team LeBron.
Brown explained he felt comfortable playing in the event because he knew it would be little more than “a glorified layup line,” as he said later.
“Playing on a big stage like All-Star, I felt like it was a perfect place to debut it because there was not a lot of contact,” Brown told the Boston Globe. “I think it was two fouls called the whole game, so I think from a safety standpoint, I think it checked the box.”
Brown missed four games before the All-Star Game then returned to actual game action Thursday at Indiana, contributing 30 points and 11 rebounds in 43 minutes on the floor in the Celtics’ 142-137 overtime victory.
“It was fun,” Brown said afterward. “The more we are tested in those moments, I think it helps for the long run.”
The Celtics, whose 44-17 record is best in the NBA, beat the 76ers 110-107 in Philadelphia on Saturday night with Brown posting 26 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Brown did have one issue in Philly, but it had nothing to do with the mask he’s wearing.
"It's fun playing here. The crowd was a little bit hostile in moments," Brown told NBC Sports Boston's Abby Chin. "People on the side was talking crazy, but we persevere and make some plays and you get the win.”
Asked how he feels about trash-talking with 76ers fans, Brown said, "It depends. I started talking to one of the fans because it got a little bit excessive, where it got a little disrespectful and stuff like that. Even before the game, we was entering the arena. It was people saying 'I hope you tear your ACL.' I understand people care and they love the team that they cheer for, but I think it gets a little excessive at times.”
Brown said he’s becoming comfortable with the mask, which he expects to wear for another 4-5 weeks.
“It’s going to take some getting used to,” Brown told reporters in Indiana. “It’s just some things I need to adjust and adapt to, but I will. We’re going to be real acquainted with each other after this duration.”
He describes the mask as being pretty thick and says it leaves his face hot. But he feels protected.
“I didn’t shy away from contact, I didn’t feel like I had to alter my game or anything like that,” he told the Boston Herald. “It gets a little uncomfortable at times, and then sometimes you have to get your head around and make sure you see everything, if somebody is coming from behind or somebody’s in your side view.
“But just be able to make those adjustments, you have to keep your head up and see the floor.”
Brown is having the best season of his seven-year NBA career. The 26-year-old is averaging 26.5 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.2 assists.
Cover photo of Jaylen Brown by Trevor Ruszkowski, USA Today
Follow Jeff Faraudo of Cal Sports Report on Twitter: @jefffaraudo
