Jaylen Brown is leaving his ego behind him after being traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.
No professional basketball player believes the game would be better if they didn’t have the ball in their hands.
Many in the NBA feel this way but understand that they have to play their role. Just because you were a high lottery draft prospect doesn’t mean you’re going to be the star of the team. You never know what can happen after you’re drafted.
Jaylen Brown knows this all too well, as he was selected with the No. 3 pick by the Boston Celtics in 2016. He had to share the floor with another third pick in Jayson Tatum. Now the former Celtics wing is a member of the Philadelphia 76ers and has to do it again with LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Tyrese Maxey.
The good news is Brown is all in on doing what it takes to help the team.
Per ESPN's Shams Charania, Brown will be approaching this season with “no ego.” In fact, it was Brown doing everything he could to recruit James to Philadelphia. This suggests he means what he says and will forgo being the star to try and win another championship. But this is nothing for Brown; while being an outspoken person about social aspects outside the association, he has never uttered a bad word about his teammates. It’s never been about him and what he can do better than someone else, but about what he can do to improve the entire team.
With a team like this you need those selfless players in order to achieve a singular goal. While it is a lot of mouths to feed, it makes sense for James to be the one orchestrating the offense. He has that ability to oversee the floor and find the best possible option while allowing everyone to touch the ball. This team doesn’t need a high-scoring output from one player, which makes this situation even better.
It gives the illusion that the scoring can come from anywhere on the floor. The other side to this is if one player is having an off night, it can open the floor for someone else to take control, and they may not even be one of the starters.
Selflessness can’t be taught; it’s something you’re born with. The ego within the association gives many a false perspective on how to play the role they’re given. But the ones that truly understand establish a mental toughness that allows you to put all that to the side and come together for a chance to do something special.
