Jaylen Brown measures legacy after inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic victory

ByNBAUSA



BOSTON — History of the Boston Celtics it hangs in the rafters of TD Garden and is embedded deep into the floorboards. But those inanimate objects don’t really do it justice. A better example of that was Sunday afternoon during the inaugural NBA Pioneers Classic between the Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks, when members and relatives of the Celtics from the past breathed life into the history of the Green team with their presence.

In honor of the 75th anniversary of NBA pioneers Chuck Cooper, Earl Lloyd and Nat “Sweetwater” Cliftonwho were the league’s first black players, the Celtics invited their family members to Sunday night’s showdown and gave them a standing ovation before the game.

Cooper was the first black player drafted into the NBA, having been selected by the Celtics in the second round of the 1950 NBA Draft. And while Lloyd and Clifton don’t have direct ties to the C’s, there were plenty of other people in attendance who did.

For example, the Celtics welcomed Julie Auerbach Flieger, granddaughter of legendary Celtics executive Red Auerbach, and Karen Kenyatta Russell, daughter Celtics legend and 13-time NBA champion Bill Russell. Russell’s former teammate and Celtics Hall of Famer Tom “Satch” Sanders was also honored during the Celtics’ 107-79 win over the Bucks:

The family of KC Jones, an eight-time NBA champion with the Celtics, and Sam Jones, a 10-time champion with the Celtics, watched current Celtics star Jaylen Brown record a career-high 30 points and 13 rebounds.

While surrounded by living, breathing Celtics history, Brown decided the first Pioneers Classic was a success.

“It was great,” he said in the locker room. “I think it was pretty cool to be able to honor people from the past. . . . To know where you’re going, you have to know where you came from. So I thought the NBA did a good job honoring some of those guys.”

After the 28-point victory, Brown spoke with Russell, the daughter of the man, athlete and civil rights leader he looks up to.

“His legacy here in Boston, everything he’s stood for and his experiences have informed how I use my platform in 2026 and beyond,” Brown said of Bill Russell.

What legacy does Jaylen Brown want to leave with the Celtics

All of this history and discussion of generational influence has Brown weighing his legacy with the Celtics.

“As you continue to progress through the journey, the legacy is something you think about,” he said. “A legacy is something that stands out, and the best legacy you can leave is a win.”

So far, the five-time All-Star has built a winning legacy in Boston by refusing to miss the playoffs during his 10-year NBA career. in fact Brown even picked up the Bill Russell NBA Finals Most Valuable Player trophy high overhead after winning the title in 2024, a great way to honor the award’s namesake.

However, if there was one thing Russell valued more than winning, it was helping others and advocating for social justice. Brown has continued that legacy as well, caring for the Boston community since he was drafted there a decade ago and emphasizing the importance of education and equality whenever he can.

“Besides winning, (the legacy) is how you impacted the community,” Brown said. “Two things that I’m proud of, being able to win basketball games, winning championships – hopefully more – and being able to impact my community in a positive way. That’s what you invest in. That’s what I invest in as a player, that’s my investment as a Boston Celtic and as a member of my family.”

Brown wasn’t the only Celtic to feel palpable history in the building on Sunday. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla always emphasizes the importance of the predecessors of the Green Team, and he repeated that prominent message.

“We’re lucky enough, working for the Celtics, we just have history around us all the time,” he said. “This business wouldn’t be what it was, and this team wouldn’t be what it was, if the people before you hadn’t left it better than they found it. And so, you have a responsibility to do the same.”

Brown and Macula have helped improve the Celtics since their arrival in Beantown, especially this season. The Celtics are currently in third place in the Eastern Conference and moved to 31-18 overall after handing the Bucks their fifth straight loss.

“History is one of my favorite subjects,” Brown said. “A lot of history (here). A lot of great players have played for this organization. So it’s an honor to continue that.”

After celebrating the past, the Celtics will look to the immediate future. They quickly hopped on a plane headed to Texas on Sunday night as they face the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday and the Houston Rockets on Wednesday.

However, just because the Celtics are focused on the present does not mean they will forget their rich history.

“Build intergenerationally,” Brown recommended. “Being able to connect with people who have come before gives you information, gives you wisdom, so as you move forward, you know exactly what to do.”





2026-02-02 06:38:00

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