#jaylen-brown

#jaylen-brown

"This whole MVP thing, I don't understand why his name is not getting talked about some as well," James said. "Like, nobody gave them [the Celtics] a shot to start the season. And he's averaging what, 30? Just under 30? It's a popularity contest sometimes, I tell you."

"Just a basketball play, it's unfortunate," Brown said. "Okongwu's a good player, and I know from my own experience with a fractured face and chipped teeth. ... It wasn't intentional, and I know it's going to be a long day at the dentist for him, so hopefully he has a good recovery."

"It was just fitting," Brown told WSB-TV's Alison Mastrangelo of the brief defect. "It was my high school experience all wrapped up into that one moment right there."

I've been saying this about Jaylen Brown for years now,

"I knew before the game," Brown said when asked when he felt he'd found his rhythm and could have a big night. "In warmups, I could just feel like every shot, the ball was coming off my hand super clean. My footwork felt great. I did salsa last night. Had some great salsa classes. So I felt good as soon as I walked into the arena."

The Celtics listed Jaylen Brown as doubtful for Thursday's matchup against the Wizards on their latest injury report, citing a non-COVID illness. Brown has played in all 21 of the Celtics' games so far this season. He scored a season-high 42 points against the Knicks on Tuesday night. If he winds up missing the Washington game, it will be the first time these young Celtics will play without Brown this season.

The Celtics were a combination of unlucky and inattentive in the final minutes, which is not a good combination for a team that can no longer get by on talent alone. First, some unlucky: With 2:20 remaining, Sixers rookie V.J. Edgecombe fired up a 3-pointer that bounded high off the back rim and seemed to scrape the rafters before falling back through, which gave Philadelphia a crucial two-possession advantage at 100-96.

Ahead of the Celtics' season opener Wednesday, Brown served as a pre-audition guest judge as part of comedian Druski's "Coulda Been Records" Boston auditions. Brown particpated in a role similar to that of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson -- who made an appearance in May -- as the decision-maker to determine if contestants should advance to the next round of their audition for the record label: to get in front of Druski, the fictional label's CEO.

Every team has a betting angle -- from player props to team futures -- and that's why we're here to help you find the best futures bet from each of the NBA's 30 teams. André Snellings made his picks for the Eastern Conference, Eric Moody did the same for the Western Conference. Odds as of publication. For the most up to date odds, visit ESPN BET.