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[Saba Sports News] Bill Simmons is a big fan of Jaylen Brown now, but he wasn’t thrilled when the Boston Celtics chose him with the third pick of the 2016 NBA Draft. Simmons’ critical tweet about the Celtics’ draft choices, including Brown, recently resurfaced.
Simmons tweeted his disbelief, saying, “The Celtics just took the 7th pick in the draft at no. 3 and used no. 16 on a French guy sitting in the stands. I’m gonna make a drink.” This has since been viewed as a major misjudgment. Brown went on to become a Finals MVP, an Eastern Conference Finals MVP, and a three-time All-Star, playing a key role in ending the Celtics’ 16-season title drought.
At the time, many shared Simmons’ skepticism. A draft night watch party at TD Garden turned sour as fans booed the selection, and even the Celtics owner, Wyc Grousbeck, faced boos while explaining the choice.
Coming into the draft, Brown was considered a top prospect, though not quite top-three material. Known for his athleticism and defensive potential, his offensive skills, including his shooting and ball handling, were seen as underdeveloped. In his only college season at UC Berkeley, Brown’s stats were promising but showed room for improvement, especially in shooting accuracy and turnovers.
The Celtics, however, were confident in their ability to develop his offensive game—a decision that paid off handsomely. By the 2023-24 season, Brown had significantly improved, averaging 23.0 points on a career-high 49.9% shooting.
Now viewed as one of the NBA’s top wings, Brown’s success starkly contrasts with the subsequent seven draft picks, none of whom have made an All-Star team, except for Jamal Murray, who shows potential.
Regarding the “French guy,” Guerschon Yabusele, whom Simmons mentioned, he joined the Celtics a year later and was waived after two underwhelming seasons. Yabusele later found success in China and Europe, winning the EuroLeague with Real Madrid in 2023.