Jaylen Brown continues to have discomfort. He is gradually recovering from a sinus infection that prevented him from participating in Boston’s victory against the Charlotte Hornets. However, he was determined not to miss this.

“I’m supposed to be home in bed, but this is what it’s about to me,” Brown said after he was honored by Massachusetts Sen. Nick Collins for his philanthropic work with Boston children. “This is what having a platform is about. It’s not about the cars or the praise, it’s about trying to help people and trying to make change in the community. This is the stuff that keeps me going and motivates me and gets me out of bed even if I’m a little bit under the weather.”

Sen. Collins acknowledged Brown’s contributions, both personally and through his Juice Foundation, particularly his involvement with the “No Books No Ball” initiative and the Boys and Girls Club of Boston. The organisation “No Books No Ball” was founded in 1991 with the explicit objective of utilising academics, basketball, and community involvement to inspire urban youngsters and enhance the strength and agency of families, individuals, and communities.

“Just by using my platform, being an athlete, a basketball player, I think has a lot of influence,” Brown said. I’m just trying to use it in a positive manner.”

Brown’s day also included meeting more than 100 local school children, answering questions, and taking photos.

“Children are the future,” Brown said. “Children are the ones that are paving the way for the next generation and carrying the torch, so, teaching them the right way, showing them the right values, the right way to do things, is important to me because they’re going to grow up and they’re going to be the next people to carry the throne so they’ve gotta be handled and taken care of the right way.”

Jaylen Brown takes a photo with local school children at the Massachusetts State House

The values that drive Brown to give back were instilled by his mother, who, as usual, was with him. This was different than watching him play basketball, though.

“This honor is amazing. It’s very amazing. With him, the value of education was instilled from my grandfather, to my mother, to me, and to see him pick up the torch and to carry it the way he has has been just an honor,” Jaylen’s mother Mechalle said. “Today is just one of the best days. I’m just happy and it’s been a pleasure to be here.”

“My mom is part of the foundation,” Brown said. “She’s definitely taught me to be a man that thinks for himself and also be a man of the people. Having my mom here when people celebrate you for some of the things that she raised me on, I’m sure it’s a good feeling for her.”

Brown frequently dedicates a significant portion of his leisure time to engaging in educational endeavours and participating in community events. Indeed, he is a youthful sportsman who has recently inked a substantial contract deal. While he prioritises enjoying life’s pleasures, he also feels a strong sense of obligation to contribute to the well-being of his society. One aspect of our work is assisting children, while another aspect involves supporting the overall development of communities throughout the city.

“This is now a part of my home… I definitely want to be a part of the change in the community. I think that Boston has, over the last 10 years has definitely come a long way and I think we’ve still got some ways to go,” Brown said, expressing a willingness to be an agent of change and not just an athlete defined by on-court success. “I do think there’s a lot of people that are more comfortable than others, and I think uncomfortability might be a good thing. I think there’s people who think the world is fine the way it is, and I challenge that a little bit. I think we’ve still got a lot of growth left to do.”