Brown declares, ‘I’m one of the best defenders in the NBA’ after facing Doncic

Fresh off a 119-110 victory against the Dallas Mavericks, Boston Celtics’ Jaylen Brown asserted his prowess as a defender in an interview with NBC Sports Boston’s Abby Chin, making a bold statement that is likely to grab the attention of future opponents.

Brown confidently stated, “I feel like I’m one of the better defenders in the league, if not the best defender in the league, so I view it as a challenge that should be entrusted to me,” referring to his assignment of guarding Mavericks’ star Luka Doncic in Monday night’s game.

Despite Doncic still managing to score 33 points, matching his season average, the 6-foot-7 Slovenian faced a notably less efficient performance. Brown limited the versatile playmaker to 40 percent shooting from the field and 25 percent from beyond the arc, a significant deviation from Doncic’s usual shooting percentages of 48.5 percent and 37.6 percent, respectively.

Brown, acknowledging the variability in his physical condition on any given night, emphasized, “Whatever night it is, my body is in a different shape, and I’m tasked with guarding the best players night after night.”

With an average of just over a steal per game, Brown’s defensive impact is evident in holding opponents to 41.4 percent shooting from the field and 32.8 percent from three-point range when he is the primary defender. Notably, in their January 7 matchup against the Indiana Pacers, Brown’s defensive efforts limited the team to just two points on 1-of-9 shooting when he was the primary defender.

League-wide, Brown ranks second among qualified NBA defenders in opponent field goal percentage below expected output, trailing only behind Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid.

Catch every play – Basketball Live score, schedule, and results!

Thanks to Jaylen Brown’s defensive contributions, the Celtics are tied for third in defensive rating, limiting opponents to an average of 110.6 points per game. Notably, Boston has displayed exceptional defensive discipline, allowing a league-low 14.5 free throws per game.

In the offseason, following the signing of the highest-paying contract in NBA history, Brown set a personal challenge to enhance his defensive skills. It appears he has fully embraced this challenge, making defense a consistent priority in every game.

Expressing his commitment, Brown stated before the season, “To challenge myself more throughout the year is important because in the playoffs, I take on certain roles and responsibilities, no problem. But even challenging yourself throughout the year to push yourself in that regard, because that’s the side of the ball that we don’t appreciate as much as a part of the game, that we don’t appreciate as much. We emphasize and glorify the offensive side, but the defense can really affect winning. So really taking that seriously and really locking in, pushing the teammates around you, trying to be the best you can be.”

Having secured victories in their recent back-to-back games, the Celtics aim to conclude their road trip with a win against the Miami Heat on Thursday before returning home to face the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday.