Jaylen Brown: In Johannesburg, South Africa

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Jaylen Brown: In Johannesburg, South Africa Empty Jaylen Brown: In Johannesburg, South Africa

Post by mulcogiseng Thu Aug 03, 2017 3:59 pm

http://www.masslive.com/celtics/index.ssf/2017/08/boston_celtics_projections_esp.html

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics wing: Johannesburg, South Africa 'feels kind of like home'


By Tom Westerholm
When Boston Celtics wing Jaylen Brown landed and walked off the plane into Johannesburg, South Africa for the first time, he couldn't stop smiling and waiving.

"Excessively smiling," he told reporters on a conference call Thursday. "I probably came off a little weird to some of the customs people. But I was just happy to be here."

Brown will take part in the 2017 NBA Africa Game on Saturday as part of Team World, which will take on Team Africa, a roster made up of first- and second-generation African NBA players. The game originated in 2015 and will be the second time the NBA plays a game in Africa.

Brown said he didn't have expectations before arriving.

"I came here an empty slate, just hoping to see what Africa was about etc., what South Africa was going to look like," Brown said. "I didn't have any expectations, so I wasn't really surprised. But I was pleased with a lot of different things I've seen here. A lot of the stereotypes etc. don't apply to Johannesburg, South Africa."

Brown went as far as comparing it to Augusta in his home state of Georgia before walking it back slightly.

"I mean, Augusta might be kind of like a hyperbole, but it doesn't feel like how people depict Africa is how it's supposed to be. ... It feels liks a regular city, where they have a lot of things, just a lot more black people, to be honest. That's what it feels like. It feels kind of like home."

Participants have opportunities to work with local kids, helping them improve their skills before the actual game. Brown, who brought his mother with him to experience the continent for the first time, said he came away with a new perspective -- that the kids helped him as much (or more) than he helped them.

"They just come with a high level of energy and eagerness to get better and learn the game," Brown said. "I have that same drive in me, but they have it to a whole other level. A whole other appreciation for the game and for the talent level. Some of these kids are really talented, but they have less opportunities. But the game of basketball presents so much and it's so universal that it touches every corner. Now they have opportunities to show their game, and show who they are through the game. It's just a blessing to be here."
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Post by bobheckler Thu Aug 03, 2017 6:02 pm

Jaylen Brown: In Johannesburg, South Africa DGVj4PPU0AA2yq2



Marc D'Amico @celtics
4 minutes ago
"If when I die I’m just known as a good b-ball player, then I didn’t do my job." JB channels his inner IT in Africa: on.nba.com/2u93zvF
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bob
MY NOTE:  HEY BOBC!!!  He's a drummer (technically marimbas, but they're a percussion instrument too)!!!  As if you needed another reason to love him.


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Post by bobheckler Thu Aug 03, 2017 6:06 pm

http://www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/summer-080317-brown-making-impact-children-africa?sf103553957=1



Jaylen Brown: In Johannesburg, South Africa 170803brown



Brown Making an Impact on Children in Africa



Posted: Aug 03, 2017




By Taylor C. Snow |  @taylorcsnow
Celtics.com



August 3, 2017



Jaylen’s Brown’s rookie season served as an educational period, not just on the court, but off the court as well.

The 20-year-old forward learned valuable life lessons from his Celtics teammates, including one from Isaiah Thomas, which Brown carried with him this week to South Africa where he participated in Basketball without Borders.

“Isaiah says, ‘If, when I die, I’m just known as a good basketball player, then I didn’t do my job. I’ve failed as a human being,’ ” Brown said Thursday afternoon during a conference call with the media. “That’s one of the things that he says a lot, and I think he lives by that. And I kind of hold myself to the same standard. If you just remember me for being a good basketball player, I didn’t do enough while I was here.”

Brown has already established himself as a good basketball player, so now he’s using his platform to impact others. The Celtics sophomore, along with a number of other NBA players, has spent this week teaching basketball lessons and life lessons to children in Johannesburg. So far, Brown says the experience has been enlightening.

“This is what keeps me going – just using the game to influence not only my community, but to spread light on a lot of different things that athletes have a voice to do,” said Brown, who will also participate in an exhibition game Saturday in South Africa’s largest city. “Just being here and seeing a different perspective of things kind of changes your perspective as you look back home and see what’s going on there. People are a lot more deprived and a lot more poor here than they are in America, but they don’t seem to be bothered by it or complain about it.”

Spending time with Brown has likely been a life-changing experience for many of the local children, but little do they know how much they have impacted him as well. He says that he couldn’t stop smiling earlier this week when he got off the plane with his mother, and that grin has not faded since stepping foot on African soil.

“What’s crazy is that we’re here to help [the kids], but ironically they’ve helped me a lot, just how they approach their opportunity no matter what,” said Brown. “They just come out super excited, super locked in and they come with a high level of energy and eagerness to get better and learn the game.

“I have that same drive in me, but they have it to a whole other level and it just gave me a whole other appreciation for the game and a whole other appreciation for the talent level because some of these kids are really talented, but with less opportunities. The game of basketball presents so much and it’s so universal that it touches every corner (of the world). And now they have an opportunity to show their game and show who they are through the game.”

Brown has been able to do just that this week as he has displayed his true colors by using his platform as a professional athlete to influence and benefit others around him.



bob


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Post by bobheckler Sat Aug 05, 2017 6:15 pm




bob
MY NOTE: Jaylen was team high scorer for his team. He had a real ESPN Sportcenter highlight shot.


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