Jaylen Brown,Sasha Vujacic

Boston Celtics rookie Jaylen Brown likes to wear short shorts.

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

WALTHAM -- Three games into his NBA career, Boston Celtics rookie Jaylen Brown has already done plenty to stand out. He throws down flying dunks, flashes impressive low-post skills, and occasionally commits mistakes at inopportune times. Like any 20-year-old wing, Brown needs to learn how to maximize his tools, but he has shown off plenty of potential -- and, notably, has done so while wearing shorts John Stockton would appreciate.

Yes, Brown wears short shorts, which don't even come close to scraping his knees. The No. 3 overall pick vows he isn't trying to start a trend, but just wants to feel comfortable on the court. The Celtics initially tried to give him size large shorts, but, wanting a smaller size, he walked into the equipment room and saw other pairs. Team basketball facilities manager Andy Mannix informed Brown medium shorts were available.

"And I said, 'Give me those. Slide me those,'" Brown said. "So they gave me the mediums."

Reminded he is 6-foot-7, Brown explained, "They fit well, though. I think a lot of people like them. I don't really care if they like them or don't. It's not for attention. I don't do it for other people. I like playing in them. I'm not trying to bring the short shorts back. I'm just trying to be as comfortable as I can on the floor, and I'm doing me."

Brown said he has "always" worn short shorts, including in high school, but didn't get to don them during his lone season at California because the school failed to honor his request.

"In college they played me," Brown said with a hint of a smile. "I asked for them, but they didn't give them to me. They said they couldn't order them or whatever. I didn't understand so I was pretty upset at college. But everywhere I've always worn short shorts because I felt they were more comfortable. And then I had an opportunity to wear them when I got back here, and took it."

"I'm not sure where it started," Brown added. "I didn't really like the baggy shorts because sometimes when I'd dribble between the legs, the ball would get caught or whatever. Or like when we were younger, they used to make them really thick, and when they picked up sweat they'd start getting heavy. So the bigger the shorts, the heavier they get because the more you're sweating. So that's added weight to you. So the smaller the shorts, the less weight you have to carry. And I felt like I had a little advantage, and it just kind of always felt comfortable like that."

After Boston's opening night win against the Brooklyn Nets, a reporter wanted to know if Brown is bringing short shorts back. As the rookie replied, "I wouldn't say that," teammate Isaiah Thomas interjected from the other side of the locker room: "I would."

Fans have also noticed Brown's throwback style.

"I've seen a lot of people are responding to me on social media," he said. "It's like hate or love. Like, 'I'm loving the short shorts,' or, 'He's tripping.' So I don't even pay attention to it. I'm not doing it for attention. I don't care. I'm doing it because Jaylen Brown feels comfortable in short shorts. I don't even consider them short. They're regular shorts to me."