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ESPN Senior Writer- Co-author, Pro Basketball Prospectus series
- Formerly a consultant with the Indiana Pacers
- Developed WARP rating and SCHOENE system
Kevin Pelton and Mike Schmitz continue their series on rookies, sophomores and more with a close look at Jaylen Brown.
Mike Schmitz: Despite the gruesome opening-night injury to prized offseason acquisition Gordon Hayward, the Boston Celtics have taken the NBA by storm through 19 games, leading the league in wins and defensive efficiency with a roster that features only four players older than 25. The emergence of 21-year-old Jaylen Brown, along with the expedited maturation of rookie Jayson Tatum, is a huge reason for Boston's NBA-best 16-3 record.
Brown ranks second on the Celtics in points, minutes, rebounds and 3-pointers made per game while sitting fourth in the NBA in scoring average (16.1) among players under 22 years old. He has had an excellent start to his sophomore season, which is something most statistical models would not have predicted when the Celtics drafted Brown third overall in 2016 after a single year at California.
How has he done it, will it last, and what does this strong start mean for his NBA ceiling?