A reflection on Jaylen Brown’s amazing Celtics career on her 28th birthday originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

Boston Celtics superstar winger Jaylen Brown turned 28 on Thursday. It may be hard to believe, but he was drafted by the Celtics eight years ago at the age of 19.

He’s in his ninth season with the Celtics and has already had one of the most impressive careers in team history, which is saying a lot considering this franchise has a record 18 championships and a very long list of Hall of Fame players can demonstrate.

Brown is on pace to become one of the best scorers in Celtics history. He has averaged more than 20 points per game in six consecutive seasons. This puts him fourth all-time for points scored by a Celtic player before his 28th birthday.

1. Paul Pierce: 12,086 points

2. Jayson Tatum: 11,889

3. Antoine Walker: 10,995

4. Jaylen Brown: 10,038

Brown also ranks third all-time in Celtics history with 1,033 3-pointers made, trailing only Pierce and Tatum.

He is one of only five players in the last four seasons with at least 6,000 points, 1,500 rebounds, 900 assists, 300 steals and 100 blocks. The other four players are Tatum, Nikola Jokic, Anthony Edwards and Luka Doncic.

Brown has also demonstrated the ability to excel in difficult situations, and that was most evident in the 2024 playoffs.

He played a key role in the C’s Banner 18 victory last season while also being named MVP of the Eastern Conference Finals and MVP of the NBA Finals. He made so many crucial plays in the 2024 NBA Finals win over the Dallas Mavericks, including a 30-point performance in Game 3 on the road.

Brown’s resume with the Celtics also includes three All-Star selections (2021, 2023, 2024), an All-NBA second-team selection (2023), and an NBA All-Rookie second-team selection (2017). .

Although Brown is in his ninth year with the Celtics, he is still early in his career. The best is probably still ahead for Brown, who has improved so many facets of his skills in recent years. He is one of the best wingers in the league and plays with an intensity that is infectious.

The Celtics started their title defense in impressive fashion with a 132-109 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday night, in which Brown scored 23 points on 5 of 9 shooting from 3-point range and seven rebounds. They will be back on the court on Thursday against the Washington Wizards. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on NBC Sports Boston.