Jaylen Brown playing for a greater cause

The 15-hour drive from Boston to Atlanta took place in the final days of May.

Jaylen Brown headed south to the city not far from his hometown of Marietta in order to take part in a peaceful protest calling for social justice after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin.

The 23-year-old Celtics guard carried a sign that read, "I Can’t Breathe,’’ and held a megaphone as he marched with a large gathering from the Martin Luther King [...]

The 15-hour drive from Boston to Atlanta took place in the final days of May.

Jaylen Brown headed south to the city not far from his hometown of Marietta in order to take part in a peaceful protest calling for social justice after George Floyd was killed by Minneapolis policeman Derek Chauvin.

The 23-year-old Celtics guard carried a sign that read, "I Can’t Breathe,’’ and held a megaphone as he marched with a large gathering from the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historical Park through the streets of Atlanta on May 30.

"It was an interesting experience, I will say that,’’ said Brown during a video conference with the media on Monday morning following a workout at the Auerbach Center. "Impulsively during the time, I was feeling compelled to go down to Atlanta to join a cause.

"It was a peaceful protest, but we ran into some problems as well. I think three people were arrested during the peaceful protest. The night before, the city had been rioting, so I understand how the police were maybe on high alert.

"But that has been a major issue in this country, relationships between the police force and the rest of society. I think that relationship needs to improve or we’re going to see more discernment from society.’’

Brown has been vocal in calling for the need for change in the country, and his actions that weekend at the end of May showed how committed he is.

The sight on video of Floyd on the ground pinned by Chauvin’s knee for nearly nine minutes while others watched was difficult for Brown to view.

"My initial reaction, it’s hard to even put into words,’’ said Brown, whose team restarts the NBA season on July 31 against the Milwaukee Bucks in Florida. "What’s unfortunate about that situation is that, if it wasn’t a camera phone or somebody being able to watch, we wouldn’t even be here talking about it right now.

"Racism that’s caught on camera or inequality that’s caught on camera is what’s being relayed as the issue, but it’s way deeper than that. There’s issues that don’t get caught on camera. There’s issues in racism in education, in health care and other forms as well.

"Right now, we’re talking about police brutality, but I think police brutality is really just the tip of the iceberg.’’

Brown said that initially, he was not sure about going to Disney World with the Celtics to finish the 2019-20 season.

He said there have been family issues, but the spread of the coronvirus and the fight for social justice added up to maybe passing on the remainder the season. Brown said that other members of the Celtics were leaning the same way.

But as the NBA formulated solid plans in June to put everyone in a bubble at Disney World, Brown started changing his mind and thought about how it will be an opportunity to make a statement to help others.

"I just want to continue to help people learn and understand some of the struggles this country has experienced for the last 400 years or so,’’ said Brown, who hopes to get "results’’ out of the platform in Orlando.

"That’s the key. I think a lot of guys are choosing to go down to Orlando because we have the ability to play for something bigger than ourselves. I think a lot of people, including myself, have some apprehensions not just because of social injustice but COVID related, etc. A lot of us initially, even on this team, just didn’t want to go.

"I think the ability and the options to be able to play for something bigger than yourself, I think a lot of guys would sign up for that 10 times out of 10. I plan on using my voice when I’m down there. I plan on spreading light on things that are getting dimmed and hopefully the NBA and our organization can understand.

"My decision was to play just because I felt it’s bigger than me and bigger than my family and all of us. People have died for the opportunity to be able to shed light and speak on certain causes. The least I can do is play basketball.’’

Teammate Enes Kanter and coach Brad Stevens have said that Brown will be known for more than basketball when all is said and done because of his activism and voice.

"I’ve kind of haven’t looked up and looked around to see kind of where I’m at,’’ said Brown. "There’s been so much things I’ve been dealing with, family-related issues on top of COVID, on top of social injustice and what’s going on now.

"I haven’t had time to look up and I probably won’t. I’m just going to keep riding and try to keep doing what’s right until the time comes.’’

The NBA has approved a list of messages that players can wear on the back of their uniform jerseys while playing in Florida.

Kanter said last week that he will probably put the word "Freedom’’ on his jersey. Brown said that he hopes the NBA will expand the messages that can be used.

"I think we should be able to express our struggles a little bit more,’’ he said, noting suggestions like Break the Cycle, Results and Inequality by Design as possible messages he would like to have approved.

"We have to go down there and make sure people don’t forget about George Floyd and Breonna Taylor or Ahmaud Arbery or Philando Castile or Trayvon Martin and the list goes on, the countless other people who were not caught on video who experienced something similar.

"The bottom line is improvements need to be made. The NBA has a great voice, a lot of resources and a lot of influence. We’re appreciative they’re aiding in things we care about. That’s really important.’’

jfenton@enterprisenews.com

On Twitter at @JFenton_ent