It was apparent Brown grew comfortable as the summer league progressed and he averaged 22 points, 8.6 rebounds, and 3.6 steals in his final three games, taking defenders easily off the dribble, wowing the Las Vegas Summer League crowd with his desire — and ability — to dunk on opponents each time he gathered the ball on the perimeter.

Brown finished his first summer league with the Celtics having impressed those faithful who did not stay up until 11 p.m. last winter to watch Pac-12 games and knew little about the small forward whom Boston surprised by taking third overall.


What Brown did in the past two weeks is ease the tensions of those who were unfamiliar with his game and athleticism, and he became more familiar with the NBA game and what it will require to make that gulf-sized transition from the college game to the highest level.

"[The game] still has to slow down a lot more," Brown said. "I'm playing a little bit too fast in transition. Sometimes I settle for the pull-up. Sometimes I can make the open pass, just making the right read. Rome wasn't built in a day, just keep getting better every day, just keep listening to my coaches. I have complete faith in them. I know I have confidence in myself and I can get better."

The Celtics have sought athleticism and a scorer who can get to the free throw line. If summer league is any hint or indication of Brown's impact, he will reach the free throw line consistently. He attempted 61 free throws in six games and 175 total minutes.

Brown's first step enables him to get past the initial defender, and his athleticism makes it difficult to meet him at the rim without fouling. As the summer league progressed, Brown became more comfortable attacking the basket.


In the summer league opener in Salt Lake City, he fiercely went at Philadelphia's Richaun Holmes, who took Brown's aggression personally. Holmes went for Brown's off arm, and fouled him hard near the rim, prompting Brown to tell Holmes, "Go for the ball."

Brown admitted that he lacked consistent aggression in the early going, but then began attacking the rim as if he owned it, and the results were impressive.

"Jaylen, from where he was when he started training camp, to where he is now, yeah. Early on in the week, even going back to Utah, he was just kind of passive to start," Las Vegas summer league coach Jamie Young said. "I talked to him and I just said, 'Attack the basket. Do what you do.' Defensively, he got better as well. I told him, I said, 'Look we're running plays throughout. [After-timeout plays] are going to go through you. You're our guy. We're going to get you the ball and your job is to score.' "

Said Brown: "I feel like [Young] believes in me and my abilities, so he wants me to portray it, play hard, he wants me to dominate both sides of the ball. Sometimes I might take a play off, mentally just check out a little bit, and he just keeps me focused. It was a pleasure playing for him in summer league."


The transition for Brown was more mental than physical. At the beginning he viewed every summer league defender as his physical equal, perhaps overestimating his first NBA experience. And then his first step forced defenders on their heels or off balance and he realized his potential.

Video: Jaylen Brown vs. Mavericks

"I wasn't surprised I was able to get to the rim. I knew it would be an adjustment finishing at the rim because there was a lot of athleticism, a lot of speed," he said. "As with the floor spacing and the level of competition, I knew I could get to the rim any time I want. It's just a matter of when I get in there, what do I want to do?"

Brown doesn't lack in confidence.

"I don't think anybody can jump as high as me or contend with me at the rim, so it's all mental at first," he said. "I was thinking somebody was going to block my shot. I wasn't as confident in going to the basket because I thought someone was going to be there, but as the time went on, I can get to the basket any time I want and nobody is up that high. It's a matter of just finishing."

Most Celtics fans didn't stay up late to watch Brown play for Cal. They weren't familiar with his game. Former Cal teammate Tyrone Wallace, the 60th pick in the draft by Utah, said Brown will have no issue impressing his new fan base.


"He's put some of it on display here in summer league, his ability to get to the basket, to get to the free throw line," Wallace said. "He's very strong, to be his age, great size. So I think in transition he will excel. He's a better shooter than people think. He can make shots. I think overall, he's a really great athlete, a smart guy, an intellectual. Off the court, he doesn't value just basketball. There's a lot to him that people will get to know as people get comfortable with him."

Video: Jaylen Brown on summer league performance