Celtics’ Jaylen Brown Names Hardest Player He Has Ever Guarded
Celtics' Jaylen Brown Names Hardest Player He Has Ever Guarded
Jaylen Brown enters his tenth NBA season with the Boston Celtics after being selected third overall in the draft. His extensive career has provided numerous opportunities to face elite competition across the league.
During a recent Twitch stream appearance, Brown revealed an unexpected answer when asked about the hardest player to guard throughout his career. Rather than naming superstars like LeBron James or Kevin Durant, he identified Marco Belinelli as his most challenging defensive assignment.
“Marco Bellinelli, he used to light me up, bro. He just used to never stop moving. And I used to have to chase him around the system we had. Used to chase Marco Bellinelli around all these different screens. And, like, he not even getting the ball, and he’s still, like, moving back and forth,” Brown said.
Brown explained that Belinelli’s constant movement without the ball created significant defensive challenges.
The Italian guard’s unpredictable patterns and relentless motion through screens made tracking him extremely demanding physically. This style of play required Brown to expend considerable energy even when Belinelli wasn’t directly involved in offensive possessions.
“So you never know when he is about to take off at full speed and start running and catch the ball. And that shit would just be tiring as hell,” Brown continued.
Belinelli’s NBA Career Timeline:
- Last played during the 2019-20 NBA season
- Represented multiple franchises including San Antonio Spurs, Philadelphia 76ers, and Golden State Warriors
- Known for his three-point shooting and off-ball movement
The revelation highlights how defensive challenges in basketball don’t always come from the most recognizable names. While Brown has defended against premier talents like Steph Curry, James Harden, and Luka Doncic, his experience demonstrates that unique playing styles can pose distinct problems regardless of star status.
Brown also shared his personal rankings of NBA greatness during the same interview. His selections included Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Steph Curry, Allen Iverson, and Tracy McGrady. Notably absent from his list was Michael Jordan, a decision likely to generate discussion among basketball enthusiasts.
Brown’s All-Time Selections:
| Player | Position | Notable Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Kobe Bryant | Guard | Five-time champion |
| LeBron James | Forward | Four-time champion |
| Steph Curry | Guard | Four-time champion |
| Allen Iverson | Guard | 2001 MVP |
| Tracy McGrady | Forward | Two-time scoring champion |
These choices reflect Brown’s personal perspective on basketball excellence, shaped by his direct experiences competing against various opponents.
His partnership with Tatum has elevated the Celtics’ championship aspirations, while his defensive assignments against elite players have provided valuable insights into what makes certain matchups particularly challenging at the professional level.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.
