Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown had the best season of his NBA career cut short due to a wrist injury.
The injury required surgery and kept him out of the last portion of the 2020-21 regular season and the team's first-round playoff series defeat to the Brooklyn Nets.
Brown feels great as he prepares for his sixth pro season. In fact, it sounds like we'll see a more explosive Brown on the court during the 2021-22 campaign.
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"Last year going into the season, we didn't have a lot of recovery time going from the bubble right into the next year. My body really kinda felt it, especially down the line," Brown said at Celtics Media Day on Monday.
"I had lingering knee issues. I just didn't have the same explosiveness that I would normally like to have. It was a lot for my body, and for the most part, it held up. The training staff did a good job. Obviously, I got injured toward the end of the year, an isolated injury with my wrist. It wasn't something (that built up) over time. My body could have felt a lot better. Right now going into this year my body feels fantastic. I feel rejuvenated. I feel athletic, fast and dynamic. I'm ready to go."
Brown has been fully cleared to participate in training camp, which is certainly an encouraging development for the C's. He did admit there's still some swelling at times with his wrist, but it's not something to be concerned over.
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"I'm feeling good. Some days are better than others, with my wrist," Brown explained. "Some days I'm dealing with some swelling and things like that, but even on my bad days I feel great. I feel excited. I'm ready to go. I had time off to heal physically. I'm excited for this year."
Brown took a substantial step last season, averaging a career-high 24.6 points per game and being selected to the All-Star Game for the first time. He also shot a career-best 39.7 percent from 3-point range, which is one area of his game that's really improved since his rookie campaign.
Another leap from Brown would be huge for the Celtics as they try to regain a spot among the Eastern Conference's elite this coming season.