What separates Brown from the average defender and what makes his potential so tantalizing is his defensive versatility. Physically Jaylen matches up very well night in and night out with three or four out of the opponent’s starting five. When the game tips, you’ll likely find Jaylen checking the opposition’s primary guard or wing threat. But during the course of the game, you’ll see Brown switch and (likely) hold his own against every other position on the court, as he does against Karl-Anthony Towns in the clip above. Having a player with that capability has perhaps never been more crucial to overall team success. Offenses today are full of pick and roll and dribble handoff plays and movements, creating the need for players who can switch and guard multiple positions.
A player who can switch, but doesn’t need to is even better. In this play against Brooklyn, Jaylen works himself through a screen to stay with his man, DeMarre Carroll, before teaming with Aron Baynes to block him at the rim. Brown’s athleticism gives him such an identifiable advantage in defensive situations like this. What the Boston front office must really be excited about, though, is how much better Brown will likely become on defense as he gains more experience and can begin to detect the patterns in league offenses. Players with his physical gifts and instincts who can play high level defense in their second year are a rare breed.
