Jaylen Brown has been hobbled recently. Dealing with a knee injury has forced him to miss games, something the Celtics star hates. But against the Suns, none of those issues seemed to exist. He punished Phoenix by scoring a team-high 31 points. But he only played 29 minutes. These would be the games players want to play as much time to get over the scare of their ailment. Not for Brown. And surely not under Joe Mazzulla.

The former Finals MVP wasn’t upset about his condensed participation. Rather, he was thankful to the head coach. Brown revealed that Mazzulla has given him “grace” due to his injury. Moreover, at times, Mazzulla allows Jaylen Brown to feel his game and plays him longer than prescribed. That’s why Brown isn’t upset about playing limited minutes when he was unstoppable against Phoenix today.

“He’s letting me feel through it, he kind of understands where it’s at and he’s letting me, you know, play through some stuff… I appreciate Joe for the communication and stuff like that. It’s good to have that now rather than trying to figure it out once you know everything is on the line. So I think it’s important to kind of build that and I think that’s what we have that communication,” Brown noted.

Jaylen Brown missed time due to his knee injury. Now that it’s finally starting to come through, the 28-year-old looks more confident scoring the ball and playing with the force Joe Mazzulla expects him to. He has scored 55 points in the last two games, shooting with great efficiency too.

As the head coach, Mazzulla seems to be assessing Brown’s condition during the game. Moreover, with him offering regular feedback to Brown, it allows the Celtics star to adjust to his role with greater precision. With the playoffs so close, the Celtics need Brown to not only be healthy but also deliver for the team.

And as he continues to play, Brown is starting to understand what the Celtics need from him.

Jaylen Brown has a new role with the Celtics

Jaylen Brown was undoubtedly the Celtics’ best scorer tonight. The forward with nuclear athleticism poured in shots and led the Celtics through his shot-making. However, this was only a situational happening. Normally, the Celtics don’t want Brown to lead by scoring. He revealed his renewed role during the press conference.

“My role, you know, has changed a lot over the years. I feel like this year you know making plays for others. I don’t think we needed me to score the ball this year. You know obviously scoring is something that I do and that’s like probably my best quality but you know I really tried to emphasize making plays for others on my team all season long,” Brown revealed.

It definitely feels like a sacrifice for Jaylen Brown. He’s had to dial it back on the scoring end to step up as more of a connector—setting the table for his teammates instead of just filling up the stat sheet himself. Sure, he’s averaging a career-high 4.6 assists, but his scoring has taken a bit of a hit because of it.

And yet? He’s not bothered. Not even a little. For Brown, it’s not about personal numbers—it’s about doing whatever it takes to help his team win.

That’s why he wears his new role like a badge of honor—keeping everyone engaged, moving the ball, and being the glue guy when the game needs it most. Even in last year’s postseason, he wasn’t the top scorer, but that didn’t stop the praise from rolling in.

His lockdown defense, relentless hustle, and willingness to crash the boards? That’s the stuff that makes Joe Mazzulla’s system click. Brown isn’t just adapting—he’s elevating, and the Celtics are better for it.

But having a player capable of taking the helm also aids in tackling unforeseen moments. Brown is willing to do whatever it takes for the Celtics. What matters at the end of it all is winning.