Jaylen Brown did not ignore the chorus of “no left-hand” jokes that echoed across the NBA after the 2023 Eastern Conference finals. He heard every punchline and every clip. Now, he finally decided to speak on it.
During a recent Twitch stream, Brown said he re-aggravated the left wrist he previously injured during Boston’s playoff run that year, per Boston. That injury, he said, contributed to the stretch that fueled the jokes fans still recycle to this day.
Most of those jokes centered on his struggles against the Miami Heat, a series where his turnovers and missed left-handed finishes became viral talking points. Brown took the criticism, but he knew the real story behind it.
“When they say you ain’t got no left, I don’t. You got me,” Brown said while laughing. “Most of the time it’s the Celtics fans saying that and they know I tore a wrist ligament. I missed the whole season and playoffs in 2021. I had surgery and then re-injured it again in the playoffs.”
Brown Details the Wrist Injury and Why He Stayed Quiet
Brown told viewers he never disclosed his wrist issues at the time. He refused to frame it as an excuse, even though the aftermath of that re-aggravation took a long-term toll.
“I never said anything publicly. I never will because when I go out there, I give you what I’ve got,” Brown said. “Some days it feels great, some days it feels terrible. Some days I can feel the weather based on how my wrist is feeling.”
Fans never held back. One wrote, “Win or lose, Jaylen Brown has no left.” Another posted, “JAYLEN BROWN STILL HAS NO LEFT HAND BTW.” Even his peers joined in. During the All-Star Game, Brown missed a lefty layup in transition against Donovan Mitchell, who immediately pantomimed cutting off his own left hand to poke fun at him.
Brown’s most painful moment came in Game 7 against Miami when Jayson Tatum injured his ankle and Brown became the primary option. He finished with eight turnovers as Boston’s season collapsed. The jokes became louder and the frustration in the city intensified.
“I went to the media and I didn’t make excuses. I said it was my fault. I let the whole city down,” Brown said. “I’m not one of the people that runs from it. Y’all had expectations for me to win and we didn’t do it. As a leader, it was my fault. That hurt. That killed me.”
Trade Chatter, Mental Toll, and How It Fueled His Comeback
The criticism hit hard as fans debated whether the Celtics should trade him.
“Half the city was like get this dude out of here. It was a lot mentally and I could understand it,” Brown said. “We hadn’t won a championship. I wanted to win more than anything.”
That frustration altered Brown’s mindset. He said the noise pushed him into a new level of focus.
“It humbled me. My mentality shifted crazy going into that next year,” Brown said.
The shift paid off. Brown revamped his game and helped lead the Celtics to their record-breaking 18th championship the following season. He won Eastern Conference Finals MVP and NBA Finals MVP, completing one of the most dramatic personal turnarounds in franchise history.
“What was the worst moment of my career was responded with the best moment of my career in a year’s time,” Brown said.
He closed his message by turning his story into encouragement for others.
“I don’t know what adversity y’all got. It’s never too big to overcome,” Brown said. “It’s not happening to you, it’s happening through you. It’s all about growth.”
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