Boston Celtics: Ranking all 5 starters for the 2021-22 season

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - FEBRUARY 21: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and Jayson Tatum #0 talk against the New Orleans Pelicans during a game at the Smoothie King Center on February 21, 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

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Boston Celtics Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images /

Boston Celtics starters ranked: 2. SG Jaylen Brown

On many teams, Jaylen Brown would be the alpha. Alas, he’ll always be playing second-fiddle in Boston. It’s a good problem for the Celtics to have, as Brown emerged last year as an All-Star for the first time.

Brown averaged a career-high 24.7 points per game last year. He also grabbed 6.0 rebounds per game and showed his best passing proficiency yet, boosting his assist total to 3.4 per game. Brown also knocked down 39.7 percent of his threes, the best he’s ever shot from distance.

Perhaps most impressive about Brown’s performance last year is that the team put more weight on him than ever before to succeed and he met the moment. Brown averaged 34.5 minutes per game. His 29.7 usage percentage ranked in the NBA’s top 20 for the first time in his career.

The season didn’t end the way the Celtics – or Brown – would’ve hoped. The shooting guard wasn’t available for the first-round series with the Nets after he tore a ligament in his left wrist, ending his season. He has been cleared for training camp and is expected to be ready to go for the regular season.

A fully healthy Brown has the ability to be one of the top 25 players in the league, as evidenced by his All-Star trip last season. Trade rumors will always follow so long as he’s not the best player on the team, but Celtics fans should hope he sticks around for a long time as he continues to ascend.

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