Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown is honoring another player as his team celebrates their NBA championship. Brown offered tribute to the late Kentucky basketball player Terrence Clarke, during the Celtics parade. Clarke died in a car accident in 2021.
The Celtics star held up a Celtics jersey at the parade with the name Clarke on it. It was truly a classy gesture by Brown. The two players didn't play together in the NBA, but Brown clearly has fond memories and feelings of the late guard. Brown also wore Clarke's high school basketball jersey during the All-Star weekend festivities this year.
Clarke played one season with Kentucky basketball, before declaring for the NBA Draft in 2021. He was expected to be drafted, and put work in to be a lottery pick. He averaged just under 10 points a game at Kentucky, but only appeared in eight games. He was slowed down by an ankle injury that year, that limited his playing time. Clarke was one of several one-and-done players at Kentucky who played under John Calipari.
What Jaylen Brown just accomplished
It is interesting to see Jaylen Brown show so much love to Clarke. The two didn't play together in the NBA, but Brown clearly admired Clarke. Brown played for California basketball, and entered the league in 2016. So the two players didn't get to play against each other in college either. Clarke was with Kentucky basketball for the 2020-2021 season.
Brown just helped the Celtics win the NBA Championship this season. He was named the Finals MVP. The three-time NBA All-Star has played his entire career in Boston, averaging 19 points and shooting 48 percent from the field. He has helped lead the franchise to two NBA Finals appearances.
The two players do have some things in common. Both were one-and-done stars at the college level. Both players were likely first round draft picks in the NBA. Brown as selected third overall by the Celtics in the 2016 draft, and Clarke was working himself into that position. The two players also both played the shooting guard position. Both players were also McDonald's All-Americans when they entered college. Brown was part of the 2015 group, while Clark was given that honor five years later.
Brown may feel that Clarke was going to go to Boston in the 2021 Draft. It would have been incredible to see the two players run the floor together. Clarke had long size at Kentucky basketball, playing shooting guard with a 6-foot-8 frame. Brown is shorter but has more strength to his frame, at 223 pounds. Clarke clocked in at 195, so the two players had different strengths on the court. It would have been fun to see them play together or go up against each other.
Celtics fans certainly appreciate seeing this sentimental side of Jaylen Brown.
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