Jaylen Brown tied his career high with 50 points in Boston’s 146-115 victory over the LA Clippers on Saturday night, declaring himself the best two-way player in the world after the performance. Brown shot 18-for-26 from the field while holding Kawhi Leonard to 22 points on 6-for-17 shooting. For large parts of Leonard’s career, he has been considered the NBA’s best two-way wing.
Brown requested the defensive assignment against Leonard before the game, texting Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla on the team flight from Sacramento to Los Angeles. The matchup came after Brown expressed frustration about not winning Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December, with Jalen Brunson receiving the honor instead.
“I believe I’m the best two-way player in the world,” Brown said. “I just wanted to come out and show it.”
Brown scored 20 points in the first half before exploding in the third quarter. He made seven consecutive shots during the period, missing only once on a deep three-point attempt with 31 seconds remaining.
His most difficult make came with 2:21 left in the quarter when he dribbled backwards between his legs, stepped back, pump faked and drilled a contested three-pointer. Mazzulla called it one of the most complete games he has seen Brown play.
“I thought that was one of the most complete games that I’ve seen him play,” Mazzulla said. “I knew he was going to come out with that.”
Boston finished its five-game road trip at 4-1 and pulled within a half-game of the New York Knicks for second place in the Eastern Conference. The victory ended the Clippers’ six-game winning streak.
Brown is averaging 30.1 points per game this season and is on pace to join Jayson Tatum as the only players in franchise history to average at least 30 points in a single season. Tatum has been sidelined all year with a torn Achilles.
“I think the narratives are just lazy,” Brown said. “Y’all focus on the wrong stuff in the media. Y’all focus on offense and tough shot making. I just think that’s not basketball.”
Brown emphasized the rarity of Boston’s success after losing half its rotation before the season. The Celtics have integrated five to six new players while maintaining their winning culture.