On Wednesday, hours after rioters stormed the United States Capitol and the first slate of evening NBA games came to a close, eyes around the league turned to a 24-year-old forward in Boston.
Celtics forward Jaylen Brown gave an impromptu speech on the clear white privilege and double standard associated with Wednesday’s events, joining a chorus of poignant comments throughout the NBA. Brown has emerged as one of the leading voices in the fight against racial injustice and police brutality in recent years. He’s thoughtful, charismatic and frankly, everything you could want in a franchise anchor.