NEWS FLASH : BOSTON Celtics Jaylen Brown gave a special welcome to Jrue Holiday during his first practice

BOSTON – Jaylen Brown gave a special welcome to Jrue Holiday during his first practice with the Celtics earlier this week.

We’re not talking about a handshake or a hug or freshly baked goods. No, JB gave Holiday a nice welcome to Boston.

“I wanted to follow him around a little bit,” Brown recalled with a smile Saturday afternoon.

“Fresh, new in town. Welcome him to the team. So this is the best way to proceed.

Brown connected with Holiday from the jump, testing the veteran point guard’s resilience.

Never one to shy away from a physical challenge, Holiday delivered immediately, leading the way in what was described as one of the most intense workouts in recent memory at the Auerbach Center.

One play in particular sparked excitement in the gym when Brown made a fast break at full speed and Holiday chased him to the 3-point arc, threw his body forward and stopped the motor in no time at all.

“We were impressed with the play,” Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca said later at Holiday’s introductory press conference.

“I don’t think we ever stopped Jaylen Brown from going full speed to the basket and he ran into Jrue. And this is all.

It was amazing. One of the most incredible things he’s ever seen in practice.”

Holiday is no stranger to facing Brown. The two have had several confrontations throughout their respective careers and Brown has always considered Holiday “one of the strongest guards in the league.

“Holiday, mean while, says Brown is “one of the best players I’ve ever played against in my life, one of the hardest to defend.”

This is coming from a player who has earned five straight All-Defense selections, including three title nominations. first team.

“We had some struggles,” Holiday said. “I feel like he knows my competitive nature.

He knows that I don’t back down from anyone.

And with someone who can do it, I can do it again.

So I think just based on experience, I know that the energy and the competitiveness that I bring night after night is going to be something that you can always count on.

.”Bringing this type of competitiveness into a practice environment should set the tone for games.

Holiday believes, “That competitive nature in training, in training camp, all year round, competing against each other like that, knowing that I know his tendencies, he knows mine, to be able to constantly clash against each other like that, I think.

it just makes us better.”Coming off his first All-NBA season, this is exactly the type of training partner Brown could benefit from to take his game to the next level.

And now that he’s welcomed Holiday to the team, it’s time to get to work.”He immediately accepted the challenge,” Brown said.

There was great energy and a fantastic environment. I think we’re going to really push each other to get bette All rights reserved.