Jaylen Brown is on the hot seat. He will have to prove he is who he says he is with the 76ers.
Every player feels the need to prove themselves. Whether it be to themselves or to the front office, someone always has something to prove.
Bleacher Report noted which players had the most to prove to their respective teams, and for the Philadelphia 76ers, it’s star wing Jaylen Brown.
Brown definitely has something to prove considering the 76ers gave up two first-round picks for him. It’s a hefty price for the 76ers when you think about Brown’s bloated contract. The All-NBA wing has a $57.7 million cap hit, and it’s safe to say he has to show his worth. We’re past the proving stage since he earned the supermax deal while with the Boston Celtics.
The key is going to be what many consider his worth. With a team that heralds superstars LeBron James and Joel Embiid, he may not have to show up until the playoffs come around. There’s something to be said when either player is out and Brown lays an egg. It’s the type of thing that could cast doubt on what he’s capable of doing when it’s just him shouldering the load as the number one option.
Even if he does have a few bad games that shouldn’t hinder the team or impede their championship aspirations. It’s not like he has to score 30 points a night. Truthfully, if he can be impactful on offense and handle his business on the defensive side, everything should be fine. Offensively, as long as he can have defenders focusing on what he can do, it’ll continue to open the floor for others.
Brown plays at his best when he has the ball in his hands. His ability to make tough shots and handle the ball gives Philadelphia some peace of mind. There has to be something said about a player who isn’t considered the first option but is predicted to be the main driving force offensively.
When the playoffs get here, this is when Brown will have to show he's worth the money. Once a team gets into a series, things begin to settle, and teams hone in on potential weaknesses. For Brown he'll have the defensive assignment of the best offensive player. If Brown is smothering his opponent and contributing offensively, there’s no question he is worth those draft picks and then some.
One thing about Brown is that none of these things matter to him. As long as the team is winning, he’s content with everything else. Brown will be an important part of what they do, just a matter of what form that takes.
